IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The Oyo State Government through the Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA), has pledged to build people-centred smart cities driven by innovation, technology, and inclusiveness.

The Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on the Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA), Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi, stated this recently at the 2025 World Cities Day commemoration held at the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan.

In a landmark development poised to reshape the urban landscape of Ibadan, the capital of Ibadan, EVC Nig Ltd has unveiled the Vision Smart City, a cutting-edge housing estate designed to provide affordable and sustainable living options for residents.

The project, which was officially launched on Saturday, marked a significant step in addressing the housing deficit in the city while promoting smart living solutions.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has stated that without appropriate digital governance it is difficult to implement digital policies and meet strategic goals that will drive digital economy.

He stated this when he virtually inaugurated the Digital Transformation Technical Working Group DT-TWG phase one and officially launched Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture portal NGEA in Abuja.

Recently, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, unveiled a multipurpose residents smart card tagged “Lag ID” with a unique identification number for identification of every resident, irrespective of tribe, age or status.

The smart card is a one-stop access card to live in Lagos and the first of its kind in Africa. It serves as a replacement for all other cards issued by the state government for a more efficient access to government services and other personal benefits.

The commissioner told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the Sunday in Jos that deputy directors would also receive training in the use of ICT.

Piwuna said the training was to give the lawmakers and the directors the requisite knowledge to make them ICT-compliant.

He however, added that one of the greatest challenges facing the organisation is the attainment of financial independence.

When the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, announced last week that it had postponed the deadline for the registration of its new biometric number plates and driver’s licence from October 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014, motorists heaved a sigh of relief, but the respite was not to last long as the police immediately announced it would commence its own biometrics central motor registry requirement (Police BCMR) by the force public relations officer, Mr Frank Mba.

Against this backdrop, the police will today flag off the biometric registration of automobiles, during which all vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles are expected to be registered.

Apart from checkmating crime, the new scheme, code-named ‘Police Biometric Central Motor Registry, Police BCMR,’ according to the Force Information Technology Officer, Mr. Ayotunde Omodehinde, would also end the era of policemen standing on the road, demanding vehicles particulars.

The event which took place at the Force Headquarters main car park was attended by stakeholders in the sector, among which was the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade.

Issues of insecurity have been on the front burner of national discourse leaving government to decide how to ensure that lives and property are protected.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja, spokesman for the police, Mr Frank Mba said the biometric central motor registration will assist in reducing crime in the country.

Last year, the Federal Government inadvertently activated the panic button when it gave a timeline to subscriber identity module (SIM) and National Identity Number (NIN) linkage. Several millions of SIM cards are yet to be linked but the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Aziz, says NIN enrolment is an ongoing process. Though the Federal Government has extended the SIM-NIN sync deadline from February 9 to April 6, Aziz says the Standing Committee and Ministerial Task Force have the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on whether or not to further extend the deadline. He spoke with reporters, Lucas Ajanaku was there.

The wind of change is blowing at the nation’s seaports. It is the introduction of biometric cards for customs agents who clear goods at the ports. The new policy, among others, is in line with the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

But it goes beyond this. Championed by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the policy is also expected to check the age-long tradition of fraudulent practices involving some customs agents.

The reforms expected to bring the anticipated positive change to the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), responsible for postal administration and services in the country, is expected to commence next month.

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who disclosed this to The Guardian, at a post-event interview in Lagos on Monday, said the reform is expected to be launched in the first week of May.

If it is true that what you say, and how you say them expose and unveil the condition and attitudes of your heart, it is safe to say that the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in technology in Nigeria, at least not in 2018. His New Year Day Speech comprised exactly 2004 words. Word after word, phrase after phrase, sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph, there was no mention on technology. Despite a recent clamour for broadband proliferation by industry players and the press, the President did not offer any encouragement that he would tackle infrastructure issues. And this is happening barely twelve months before the expiration of the target of the National Broadband Plan of 30% fixed broadband penetration in the country. Depressing.

The Department of Information and Communication technology (ICT) is digitizing the public service for efficient and effective delivery of government services.

Acting Deputy Secretary of the newly approved Digital Government Wing, Russell Woruba said currently there is a general state of distrust in Public Services because it takes longer to get services across to citizens.

Excerpts from address by Dr. Tunji Olaopa, Permanent Secretary, Fed. Min. of Communication Technology at the Valedictory Ceremony in honour of Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, pioneer Hon. Minister of Communication Technology held on the 27th May, 2015 in Abuja.

I have been pretty hard as a civil service reform conceptual worker on my colleagues on our inability to rise above conventional bureaucratic standards when we have to work with bosses who came in with some best practice knowledge, skills and competence that we could leverage to enhance our practices.

Speaking during a facility tour of e-Governance equipment in the state, Efere who noted that the ICT bug is catching on all government officials said ICT is being used to reinvent the business of government through new ways of integrating information and making it accessible over networks and the internet.

According to him, the adoption of the initiative, being managed by the due process and e-Governance Bureau of the state, was informed by the desire of the government to enthrone the culture of responsibility, accountability and financial transparency.

The commission sent SMS to registrants whose cards were ready directing them to visit collection centres with their slips for biometric verification to get their cards.

Some registrants on Sunday called on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to issue them with national identity cards years after enrolling with it.

Speaking at the kick-off of the exercise in Ibadan, on Thursday, the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Mr Joseph Olaitan, said the essence of e-registration of foreigners was to also create room for easy identification of foreigners, especially during the forthcoming elections, adding that no foreigner was allowed to participate in the April polls.

The conference with the theme, “A Framework for Software as a National Imperative for a 21st Century Nigeria.” amongst others exploreed, assessed, evaluated and determined the software-readiness status of Nigeria and provided an all inclusive ‘Framework for software as a National Imperative for a 21st Century Nigeria.‘