Thursday, February 19, 2009

THE NEW LAGOS



THE NEW LAGOS

Lagos the nation’s commercial capital is home to Nigeria’s busiest sea and airports as well as sixty percent of the country’s industries.

The large number of the heavy duty vehicles which come into the state and the challenges faced by the government on how to ensure that they do not endanger the lives and property of residents formed the crux of a forum in Lagos.

. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos will lead the drive for investment for his dream New Lagos, his pet project of developing a part of the state called Badagry and linking it to the rest of the state with a modern transportation system, provision of first-class infrastructure in the state, mass housing and tourism…The “New City on the Atlantic” which the Lagos State government is planning to develop is part of the Mega City Project. The Summit, with the theme “Nigeria Meets the World: Turning Challenges into Opportunities,” will, in addition to discussing the Case for Lagos Mega City, will treat topical issues on Energy, Oil, Gas & The Niger Delta, Rebuilding Infrastructure, Deepening Financial Sector Reforms, Fighting Corruption, Ensuring Electoral & Democratic Reforms, and Climate Change.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Lagos Metro Life Update


10,000 Surveillance Cameras to be Installed in Lagos


Lagos, the largest മെഗാ city in Sub-Saharan Africa, plans to install 10,000 solar-powered closed circuit cameras all over the metropolis, under the Lagos Safe City Project.

Speaking at a demonstration event, the Lagos State Governor revealed that “18 million people can not be protected and policed by 33,000 people.”

“This is impossible, he said, “and no matter how high we try to increase the number of officers, it is evident we can not continue to do the same things and expect different results.” Watch video clip of the event »

The governor continued: "In an information technology driven world we have to be counted as one of those states and communities who will adopt best practices, cameras, sensors, tracking devices are the nerve center of these facilities that would assist men and officers of the police force, fire service among others to do their duty much more effectively."

Lagos, the financial hub of Nigeria has one of the highest crime rates in the world, lacks a reliable emergency response services and efficient crime control system.

The Lagos Safe City Project -- funded by the private-public sector generated Lagos Security Trust Fund -- hopes to address some these problems, via a Central Security Command Unit, where the cameras will be managed remotely (wireless connection), and used to coordinate security, emergency responses, and traffic needs of the state.

"This is only one step in the whole platform", according to the governor. He stated "Lagosians must recall that the platform started with the signing and naming of streets, providing directional signs for responders to get to crisis center on time with the deployment of the emergency number, "767" which is toll free. With this initiative, we are determined to make a difference."

The Governor disclosed that the Central Security Command Unit would be equipped with men from the various security outfits, including the Nigeria Police, the military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the ambulance and fire services, adding that each of these men will not only be able to receive distress calls but will also be able to dispatch commands to their men in the field for necessary follow-ups.