In a technology-driven world, no nation wishes to be left behind in the race to achieving the El dorado. Gone were days kinectic approach sufficed in dealing with societal challenges among which insecurity was pivotal. In this digital age, heads of nations and managers of modern cities are seizing options offered by smart technologies to manage their cities and climes effectively. It is against this background that Lagos wants to be counted among world’s smartest cities by reducing human interface in the manner the capital city is protected.
Interestingly, Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government’s transformative agenda has been all out the area of security. Granted that Lagos boasts of well-motivated, well-kitted security operatives, the incumbent has often uppped its ante by deploying modern equipment and aids to ensure crime is nipped to the bud in Lagos. The Governor actually hinted at this last December while presenting 260 operational vehicles and gadgets to men of Lagos Police Command during a security town hall which had the theme, “Data and Technology-driven Security. The governor said: ‘Our administration is steadfast in its commitment to harnessing the transformative power of data and technology to revolutionise how we protect our communities’. This does not foreclose the involvement of human personnel. The truth is, by the time human involvement becomes inexpedient, the gadgets would have done a major part of the job. Three months down the line, Governor had shown commitment in that regard.
Only recently, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide announced that henceforth, the state would demand mandatory provision of CCTV cameras in buildings of six floors and above as a prerequisite for the issuance of Planning Permits. This directive came even as the General Manager of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Prince Dr. Ifalade Oyekan warned officers of the Corps to treat government’s equipment in their possession with care.
Quoting the commissioner, ‘property owners will, as a requirement for Planning Permit, now be mandated to install CCTV cameras in all existing buildings of six floors and above along major roads in the state as well as in all proposed or under construction buildings of six floors and above anywhere in the state’. He did not stop there, Olumide extended the government order to commercial buildings seeking approval in Lagos State.
The initiative which has received the governor’s nod was geared towards enhancing security and balance public safety with physical planning considerations within the state. Meanwhile, the CCTV installations will be regulated by Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, the commissioner further disclosed. According to him, the directive was to maintain standard and guarantee maximum performance of the cameras.
One can then begin to estimate the deliverables from the cameras because part of the directive is that the property owners must volunteer the camera footage to security agents on request. Depending on the extent of coverage, imagine the number the prying eyes that will be needed to cover the space a few cameras will capture. This underscores the power of technology compared to the force of men. A smart city like Lagos does not deserve less and it will be unprecedented in the anal of organized and livable cities in Nigeria by the criminals realise there’s no hiding place for them on Lagos streets any longer. It was on this premise that the physical planning commissioner enjoined all stakeholders to support the initiative, which was in tandem with the smart city ideals and the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus agenda of the state government.
In a related development, the state made good its promise to transform the community surveillance wing of her security apparati into a formidable force. Recently, operations of men and women of the LSNA were enhanced with operational gadgets and equipment. The agencys General Manager, Dr. Ifalade Oyekan while distributing the equipment to Commanding Officers of the various Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas urged them to handle the tools with care. ‘Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has been very gracious to this agency and its corps, and we owe the people of Lagos State to be diligent at our work while also protecting the equipment put at our disposal’, Oyekan said. The tools and equipment include flashlights, intelligence pen recorders, binoculars with night vision capacity, and megaphones to enhance the corp men’s community engagement programmes and capabilities.
Under the current dispensation, the security architecture in the state has enjoyed a robust attention. Government has continually upped the ante by supplying the state command with security hardwares, communication gadgets and protective gears. Intelligent surveillance cameras have been installed in critical areas even as drones are being deployed to enhance field operations.
