Interview

Governing Lagos is not a child’s play — Sanwo-Olu

Published

2 years ago

August 11, 2022

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu featured in an interview on Sunday Politics Programme on Channels Television with Seun Okinbaloye. During the interview, he reflected on the demands of governing Lagos, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre with over 20 million residents. Excerpts from his responses to issues of security, and infrastructure, governance, among other pressing needs, as well as the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State, present below the burdens of governing a Mega city.

You had a meeting with some security chiefs in Lagos and you assured all Lagosians that all is well. With the recent security threats that have exposed not only Lagos but the nation, what are the proactive measures put in place to stop elements who want to infiltrate the state?

Security is seen as the bedrock of any good governance because what we preach is that we want to ensure that we save the lives of the people, properties and life. These were some of the things that we campaign on. And if you look at my THEMES agenda, the last word there which is ‘S’ is Security and good governance. So, it is not something that we are just waking up to, it was something that we thought of and something we dreamt of and we knew we wanted to deal with. But to answer your question is to look at the security architecture in Lagos. I was opportuned to be the first interim chairman of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and I was part of the board for four years when we set up the fund in 2008.

So, what you see in Lagos outside of the regular Lagos State Police Command is that our government has been able to strengthen the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS). In fact, we have about 2,500 men that are in Rapid Respond Squad. We also have about 500 to 600 men in the Taskforce apart from the fact that we have access to about two to three MOPOL formations in Lagos. Lagos also has about 15 area commanders and about 110 divisional police officers. So what it means is that in that small space of 3,650 square kilometers you have this whole entire gamut of security architecture.

So what happens is that we have three layers of intervention in Lagos. The regular police in the event of a day-to-day issue that everybody wants to relate to, but when you have a tactical intervention, the men of the RRS are usually the ones that you see coming out first. And when it has to do with direct intervention from the Governor’s office, then you can also see the men of the Taskforce. So, in the last three years, we have also been supporting all the security architecture in the state – not only the Police. We have given them over 260 vehicles in the last three years. We have also extended similar things to other security architecture; the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force under a programme called OP MESA. So, with all of that, they continue to speak to each other on a panel of state security and we continue to also support them on equipment because we know security is not cheap.

It is not something we are starting today, it was something that we started right from day one, ensuring that we are not waiting for anybody to do what we need to do in Lagos to make sure that they are motivated, they have the equipment to work with, they have logistics support and they have access to me. That is what has helped us pretty much to be able to speak to the issue and deal with it when they do occur in the terms of its architecture.

What we have also now done is coming out of the regular police formation, to also extend this same security architecture to other security agencies in Lagos State; NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency), Civil defense corps, Correctional center, Nigerian Immigration Service and of course the Neighborhood Watch that we also have. So, it is the entire tripod that is now activated; ‘see something, say something’ – that is now activated at various security operations to know that everybody has a box to take; everybody has a responsibility to ensure that whatever you need, notice or observe in your own sphere of engagement, escalate it, have access to the people that can come and rescue the situation. So, those are some of the things we agree to, two days ago (Friday), to say that we need to collaborate a lot more. We need to share information; it is not one person recycling all the information. If you observe something escalate it and we are also taking it to the citizens. At our CDCs (Community Development Committees) and CDAs (Community Development Associations) are people that have been working with us. They have over 1,100 of them in various associations and these are the people that we take intelligence from. The intelligence we take from them, the Lagos State Neighborhood Watch is the organ that processes it in a way and manner that we can send it to the Nigeria Police Force. So, that architecture is working for us.

The EndSARS scenario gave Lagos out on how porous Lagos could be when you have people who had infiltrated. Are there things that we do not see or we cannot see that are available that you have in gathering intelligence? There are CCTVs around the cities; what other digital means do you utilise to gather intelligence that can give Lagosians peace of mind?

I will not go into details to say this is the specific place where the cameras are, but we are working with the Department of State Security, which has a primary role for intelligence. They are the ones that comb the nooks and crannies. I get telephone calls and text messages almost on a daily basis that I share with them; in this area, we notice some movement in the bush, in this area we noticed some scrupulous people in an abandoned building; in this area, we think the movement here doesn’t speak to what we know in this neighborhood. So, Neighborhood Watch also picks all of these. Like what I said, intelligence is from the grassroots, from the CDC, CDA to the Neighborhood Watch and now to security formation and the Department of State Security who goes around the city. That is still been physical, but in terms of technology, you are aware that we are deploying our Smart City intervention in the state.

We are doing it aggressively and to date, we are installing close to 2,000 CCTV cameras all around the city. We are turning some of them into traffic management. We are using some of them for traffic control but when there is a need, we also can review security activity. We are just building a new data centre for this kind of implementation, but I cannot begin to give the full details because it is also security and we are going to make this available to the Department of State Security, so that they also can review some of these things and can also access it. It is a work in a pack and it is something that citizens need to be reassured of.

Is the commanding control centre that used to be in Ikeja still there?

Yes, it is still there.

Does it still have the facilities because I have had to report security at some point in Lagos and I have been taken on a tour of that facility that you can almost see the whole of Lagos on one screen?

I built that facility when I was the Chairman of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, so I know everything we put in there. We need to retool a few things, which we are currently doing. We have actually changed the orientation and the location of the place but beyond all of that in our Ministry, we are building a new data room; a new data centre that would be specific for security. It is coming into the system already. We have got a shipment of about 21 containers that arrived about two months ago. So, all those deployments are happening gradually and we have spent a lot of money. We are not just waiting for anybody to help us out.

Lagos is very central as the commercial nerve of the country and Lagos needs to be secured. Talking about physical security, you did a ban on Okada (motorcycles), which security is one of the reasons. Are you sticking to that or extending it further?

We have seen tremendous improvement in the areas in which okada has been banned. In fact people have written to me to commend that, not only have we seen a drop in issues around security, robbery in cars and traffic robbery, but we have also seen a significant drop in accidents. We don’t see people being lame, cutting off limps in our hospitals again because these were reckless driving that usually terminates people’s life unexpectedly. So, we have seen tremendous improvement in that area.

Do you have a statistic to support that?

It has dropped in the last two months. We have seen about 550 okada-related accidents at the peak of it in January/February per month, but now, it has come down to less than 100, direct okada accidents that we have seen from our hospitals. There is also a reduction in traffic robbery; it has significantly gone down. One of the things we also tell RRS is the need to have a lot of pin-down positions because it is with okada they use to do all of the maneuverings. So, they do a lot of pin-down and pedestrian monitoring. They just need to pack and walk around, make sure people can see them and can feel them. These are some of the things happening around the city.

You have been criticised perhaps as the only Governor in the whole of the South-West region that downplayed the role of Amotekun Security Network, which some have said has worked very well in other parts of the region and the reason they speculate is that of politics. Will you be considering activating the security outfit, which was considered a great answer to solving security problems in the South-West region?

It is a great initiative and a great idea. I was part of it and I commend my colleagues for this. But this is what we forgot, I gave them the template for Amotekun in terms of the law. We have a Lagos State Neighborhood Watch; these are almost 7,000 men that have been trained, energised and working on a day-to-day in the state. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

So that is Lagos Amotekun?

Yes, that is Lagos Amotekun. They know and they also appreciate it. We supported all of the equipment they need. I have continued to participate in that space. It is the template of even how we set it up that we passed around to our neighboring states and that is what everybody has copied. There is nothing in the colour of the uniform, it is how efficient and effective the security is and we believe that the Neighborhood Watch, almost 7,000 of them, are working closely with the Nigerian Police. On a weekly basis, I get a report in almost all nooks and crannies and they escalate these things to the Nigerian Police Force and that is one of the things that have helped us to be able to directly intervene and nip some of those things that you probably won’t be aware of. I get reports on a daily basis.

How much registration of residents and citizens of Lagos do we have? How can you digitally identify people? Is Lagos not like any other city in the country?

Channels Television was represented three weeks ago when we re-launched the LASRRA card, which is now the highest digital citizen’s card that we have in this country. We just re-launched it three weeks ago right here in Lagos.

The question is how much of that do you have?

On the database now, we have about six million Lagosians. Out of the over 20 million people in the state, six million are registered in the database.

How long do you think it can take to capture the whole of Lagos?

It is something that people also need to come up to and that is why the likes of you also need to help us populate that this thing is available and these are the benefits that come with it. It is planning, it is for us to know who is where and how can we respond better.

Will it come to a point that you will have to enforce that if you don’t have it you cannot reside in Lagos?

May be not reside, we will enforce it to the extent that you might not be able to get some government services – if you want to come to our hospitals, you want to come to our schools, we will get to that.

The reason I am asking that, is you talked about CCTV; in other climes, if a CCTV camera picks your face, they are able to go through a biometrics check and identify where you reside, who you are and your criminal background and all of that. When you are installing the CCTV cameras how do you then process it?

I understand. One of the problems we have in this country is that data resides in so many places; in silos. The same data you are talking about, I can assure you there are some other federal agencies that have it. So, that is why we are collaborating with NIMC (National Identification Management Commission) and others. We have enough platform and space to be able to store them and share some of these things with us. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, technology is the same technology everywhere. So, we don’t want to begin to knock on people’s doors and say we want to take your picture, no! If you have it, even if it is in passport registration or something as simple as registration in your bank, let us have access to some of these things and they can reside in a database where security can have access to it. Some of these things are available, it is just that those agencies are not speaking to each other deliberately or lack knowledge. So, it is the responsibility of you and me to ensure that we escalate this and we bring them to sit with each other and say this is what we need to use it for.

You are spending a lot of money on rail services in Lagos and the question is how secured will they be as a proactive measure? With what happened on the Kaduna-Abuja bound train in March where over 60 persons were attacked by terrorists and abducted, in your development of rail services in Lagos, are you considering measures to protect the rails from attacks?

Coincidentally, today (Sunday), I have been on the road. I went on the Red line rail inspection. I started the journey from Agege and all the way to Ebute Meta with six stations and four bridges overpasses. The crew of Channels Television was with us on that journey. Our journey to ensure that we have a rail infrastructure ready in Lagos State by December is on track, it is on budget and we will meet those deadlines.

This is different from the Kaduna-Abuja rail because this is an intra-city rail network, it’s not an inter-city. It is not the 200-kilometer rail; this is a 30-35 kilometers in-city rail infrastructure. So, what you need to do is to ensure that in each of your train stations, you have sufficient CCTV cameras and documentary of who has come in into the station and ensure that you also have scanners when people are going to board the train. How do you record the movement of people so that you can have a well robust counting system? How is your payment system? Is your payment system something that you can track at the back end? We are putting a payment system that is cashless, you are not going to come and pay by cash on the counter. You must have a prepaid card and the rest of it. So, these are some of the things in our view that will deter would-be criminally minded people because they would not be passengers, that is one.

Secondly, the entire rail tracks are going to be fenced off. They are going to be walled off. We are building vehicular bridges in the stations and insulating people from possible attacks. We are even insulating vehicles, vehicles are not going to cross on the rail track. We have done bridges in Ikeja Along, Mushin, Yaba and even the difficult one, the old Apapa Road, we are doing a bridge there. So, vehicles will go on top, passengers will go on top and have the opportunity to do a complete wall off of the rail tracks.

If you go on the Blue line, from Mile 2 to Orile to National Arts Theatre it is being walled off completely and so that is the kind of thing that is going to happen on the Red line. Once that is done and you have sufficient security monitoring, as people are coming into the stations and they are getting out, if anything happens, you can also go back and check it.

Proactive and preventive measures are fantastic to think about; but should it happen, when attacks happened in Nigeria, it takes a whole lot of time before there is a response. Are you thinking about response across the rail line such that should there even be a breakdown…

We have the best professionals on our payroll already and we have thought through the entire end-to-end possibilities of things that can happen. We even have a team of policemen that are dedicated to the blue line rail corridor even before it gets started to clean up and to ensure that there are no miscreants and hoodlums on that entire corridor. But professionally, how you intend to mitigate some of the concerns that you have is to ensure that you have core professionals who are running your train service; ensure that your system is up to date and you can ensure that it is a cashless system. The moment people know that there is a back end that can know that Seun Okinbaloye came to this station based on the way and manner in which we have collected your money, you will think twice. You are not going to appear, just pay and think you can walk away, no! The moment they know that you are going to go through a turn star, which has also recorded you to go and board the train, they will think twice. So, these are some of the things that we are ensuring that will be put in place. And in the event of anything whatsoever happening, as I said to you, there are cameras that are going to be there and people will play back and ensure that we can nip things in the board.

When would the project be flagged off?

The blue line will happen first by December, the red line would be the first quarter of next year. But all of the infrastructures, hard infrastructure would be ready before the end of the year. The blue line infrastructure is almost ready. The blue line infrastructures are far slightly ahead of the red line. The difference is that the red line was conceived by our administration and we are really excited that we are completing it within our first tenure.

Where do the blue line and red line start and where do they terminate?

Phase one of the blue line, which is what we’ve finished will start from Mile 2 and terminate at Marina. Marina is the iconic station for the blue line. Phase II of it will now push you back from Mile 2 and go all the way to Okokomaiko. The beauty of Phase II is that it is at the grid, meaning it is at ground level. There is no overhead, it is not a building like the one in Marina that is like a bridge, so it is going to be faster and quicker for us and the corridor is there to lay the tracks and be able to finish it. For phase one, we are going to start five stations from Mile 2 to Marina. We believe there is enough traffic on it.

For the Red line, it starts from Agbado, which is outskirt of Lagos to Iju to Agege to Oshodi to Mushin to Yaba to Ebute Meta. It starts from Agbado all the way to Ebute Meta in the first instance. Phase II of that incidentally, we want to do a lagoon crossing and get on to Marina at some time in the future. And outside of those two, we have four other lines that we are doing extensive visibility study on. We have committed huge resources. We need to do a viability and visibility study on them and they should be ready before the end of the year and we have seen both local and international investors who are ready because we have actually demonstrated this as a sub-national. We are the only sub-national anywhere in the world that is doing a rail by itself. People talked about Kenya and Ethiopia. Go and ask, it is sovereign that is doing the rail in Ethiopia; it is not the city of Addis Ababa.

But you are doing this on loan.

We are being very creative in our financing. A lot of our budget is there but we are very creative with the loan. The loan is a single-digit opportunity, also with a low single-digit, you can’t get it anywhere.

Where did you get it from?

From local banks in Nigeria; I am extremely very impressive with them. We are all stakeholders and they are with us in the Lagos journey.

Let us talk about the Apapa gridlock issue. It appears that your intervention was short-lived. You promised that you are going to fix it, what happened?

I am looking straight to that camera, I have fixed Apapa gridlock and there is no apology for that. I have fixed it and you can ask. I am on national television. What we have done, even NPA had written letters to commend us; all of the major businesses in Apapa have written letters to us. I get a daily video recording of what is happening in Apapa. I have gotten the one for today and I am sure I will get it tomorrow morning between 7 am and 9 am, and between 1 pm and 3 pm on daily basis and it is moving. Residents in Apapa have written to me to thank us. What used to take two to three hours now takes them a 15 to 20 minutes journey.

But what is the remainder of the problem? We are doing the road from Sunrise in MTN , from the Mile 2 end going towards Apapa and that is the portion that has not been completed. I think it is a stretch not more than a kilometer or something. So, that stretch needs to be completed for you to have a complete clean-up of it. However, you still have trailers on some of these roads and why so? You have trailers because the ETO system that NPA had set up, is actually working but there has been a lot of sabotage among themselves. That is number one.

Number two is also that they do not have enough trailer parks that can take the articulated trucks off the road. We are building one for them by Orile, for which we have signed a concession with someone. It is supposed to be able to relieve about 2,000 to 2,500 off the road. So, one of the things we said is that if you have an effective call-up system, what you should do is that if your truck has not been called, you don’t have any business coming into the Apapa area. That is the only thing that has not been fully implemented.

Also, inside of the terminals themselves, Apapa and Tincan Island ports, when they ask trailers to come, maybe about 200, they need to have enough space in their facilities to be able to take those 200 inside their facilities and not leave them on the road. Those are the conversations that we are trying to clean up with them. Once you give instruction and you said at 9 am, I want 200 containers trailers to move, you must ensure that you have enough facilities in your terminal to be able to take all The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran, has picked a popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele as a running mate and that is causing some kind of wave in Lagos State. He knows a lot about your party because he left APC. Do you see that as a threat in any way?

Like I said, if you have an emergency at 3 am, who would you call, what are your chances? Will you call a man that has the experience that has gone through the trenches before, that has lived with it, that understands what the issues are and that appreciates what challenge you have even at that 3 am? Or will you leave your chance to someone that doesn’t know where the dial is and does not know what the issue of governance is?

This is Lagos, this is an informed audience. This is not a tea party. We are talking of real governance and the lives of over 20 million Nigerians bigger than the economy of Ghana and the economy of Kenya, which in itself is a country. It is not a circus, it is a real thing. And I don’t want to spite anyone because I have respect for all of the candidates that have emerged and the candidate of the particular party you are talking about. How do you even begin to start? What was the pedigree? You have not run a business that has 100 people; you want to run an economy that has this number of people. The governance of Lagos is not a trial and error.

Are you willing to debate the issue of Lagos with anybody that is running this race?

It is not a trial and error; you need to hit the ground from day one running. I know the names of all my 65 Permanent Secretaries. I know their Ministries. I know what their pedigrees are. I have worked through it and I have learned through it.

So, you think you are the man Lagosians should vote for?

I believe that we have earned it and not just because we are talking about it, it is because we have done it.

Since your good leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu became the presidential candidate of APC, there have been talk about what he has done in Lagos. In fact, there was a debate recently about the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of Lagos State. How Asiwaju Tinubu meet it and how it has been now? We understand it is about N50 billion per month. The question is what do you have to show for it?

What we have to show for it is that on a monthly basis, I manage the emergency of this city. Today (Sunday) alone there have been four emergencies that had been reported. I have recruited over 650 newly recruited fire service men. I have bought 64 brand new trucks that I will invite you for the commissioning. I spent over a billion to take off the refuse in Lagos. We are building 16, 18 kilometers of rigid pavement road that run to tens of billions. We are building the biggest market in the country in Lagos. That is what we are doing.

So you are telling Lagosians that their money is working and not in the hands of third parties.

Absolute not; you can see and feel it. Seun, you and I need to go on a tour round. You have stayed out of this city long enough, come let us do a tour round so that you can really show your audience and you have got a rich audience. You’ve got an informed audience who really believes in you so that they can see. Governance at this stage in the level of this nation, cannot be a child’s play, especially in Lagos. And by the way, whatever figure we have and you see now, we actually can triple those figures because the opportunity is there.

Interview

How FG can attract Foreign Investors – CIS Boss

Published

10 months ago

July 4, 2023

NewsDirect

A thoroughbred multi-dimensional professional with over three-decade experience in the Nigerian Financial Market and President and Chairman of Council , Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Oluwole Adeosun, FCS, in this interview, X-rays the state of the Nigerian Capital Market and offers suggestions on how the Federal Government can make the market competitive through constructive engagement with the regulators and operators.

Can you comment on the historic rally on NGX after the swearing -in of President Bola Tinubu ?

The Stock Market has been a barometer to measure developments in any economy, and the conclusion of the electoral process in Nigeria encapsulated in the inauguration of a new government is a major milestone that will excite any securities market. It is therefore not unusual for our market to spontaneously react to the positive development by way of the spike in the prices of the securities. The policy pronouncements, on the day of the inauguration, were also seen as a silver bullet that raised the consciousness of the stakeholders to the opportunities in the securities market.

In his inaugural Speech, President Bola Tinubu said there would be unified exchange rate. How will this impact the activities in the capital market?

That is one of the urgent policy corrections that the Nigerian Capital Market has been canvassing for in recent years. The wide gap between the official and parallel market rates is an anomaly which creates room for so many market malpractices. By creating a more efficient and transparent foreign exchange management system, the unified rate policy will make the market more competitive, make the currencies more easilyaccessible to manufacturers and other end users, and improve the bottom line for our quoted companies.

The transparency that will evolve from determining the rate will boost the integrity of the exercise which is expected to excite foreign investors to make a return to our securities market. There cannot be a perfect unified rate. But if the margin between the official rate and other windows is within 3 per cent range, it is normal. But the supply side of the forex has to be addressed as a basis to ensure that forex scarcity will not hamper the success of exchange rate unification in the medium and long run.

How can the Federal Government deploy the market to achieve the 6 % projected growth of the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

That question will be thoroughly discussed and answered at the forthcoming CIS National Workshop coming up in Abuja on July 27, 2023. Suffice to state, for now, that the capital market is a very effective tool for actualizing a broad based Public Private Partnership strategy which we recommend for President Bola Tinubu and the various State Governors.

As at May 29, 2023 the Market Capitalization in the Nigerian stock market was just a little fraction of the country’s GDP, but that is a paradox, because the market has actually shown over time, that with adequate institutional support, it can significantly contribute to the economic transformation of the country. The capital market was used to transform the Nigerian banking system into the multi trillion industry that it is today, and to provide critical liquidity for governments in the country. The market is effective at pooling long term capital in the economy. Listing on the stock exchanges also enable large multinationals and MSMEs alike to raise massive capital with long term payback and very low cost. The commodity ecosystem is another revenue centre that the Federal Government can exploit. This is why the government should engage the operators in the ecosystem to know that is required for them to operate optimally.

Are there policy measures that the government should put in place to encourage both foreign and domestic investors to participate more in the capital markets ?

The role of government in businesses worldwide is to provide an enabling environment that will allow productive enterprises to flourish. By enabling environment, we mean rule of law, provision of adequate infrastructure etc. The government must create a savings friendly economic environment, and then, continuously work towards improving the Ease of Doing Business ranking of the country, to make it a competitive investment destination.

Tax policies should be reviewed, to encourageinvestments and not the other way round. For example, the recently introduced Capital Gains Tax will discourage high volume investments, and should be removed for now, particularly in view of the fragile nature of our economy and capital market. We need to encourage more investments.

The government should listen to us more; have more consultations with the Capital market in policy formulation. Steps should be taken to extend trading liquidity to the stock market, as is done in the advanced countries. Our pension funds should, as a matter of national interest, invest a higher proportion of their funds in the equity market to provide a stable foundation that motivates other high net worths to invest over the long term; and the Central Bank of Nigeria should pay more attention to the stock market, allow bank stocks to be included in margin lending portfolios being the most active and liquid stocks and encourage banks to partner more with Stockbroking firms. We cannot still be living in the past and be looking forward to a better future.

Is there a deliberate plan by the Institute to attract youths into the financial market ?

The youths represent our topmost priority area. Tertiary institutions and schools generally represent the first point of our annual capital market literacy drive. We also have the Inter-School Capital Market Quiz competition and recently, Essay Competition. We undertake Career Talk programs in so many institutions every year. As a matter of fact, we have gone to the extent of awarding the CIS Diploma scholarship to quite a number of young, indigent Nigerian citizens and many of them have responded positively.

When will the e-library of the Institute become operational ?

Very soon. We are currently putting the finishing touches to the library room, having procured the necessary tools for its operation. The unveiling will be announced before the early in the third quarter.

How would you advise investors under the current business environment ?

This is an excellent time to invest, with the guarantee of democracy in the country. The market will grow as the policies of the new government take shape. Having said that, please ensure that you always consult a qualified and licensed Stockbroker to guide your investment decisions. You may visit the CIS or SEC websites for the lists of qualified operators, or the websites of the various securities trading platforms. Investors should contact their stockbrokers for effective investment advice. Investment is a trade off of risk and return. An investor can make money in all seasons with appropriate investment advice.

There is still a knowledge gap in understanding the benefits of investment through the capital market. What are plans in the pipeline to deepen investor education?

We have a lot of plans. However, it must be understood that Capital Market Literacy drive is expensive. That is the reason we continue to request for grants: From government, market regulators, quoted companies and the general public. As you are aware, we launched CIS Academy last year and in just a small space of time, they have done so much in imparting skills to the larger financial industry; an example being the recent joint training Programme with Lagos Business School on Board Leadership in the Securities and Investments industry. We have so much to do, but the financial capacity is limited.

Interview

Online voting will promote democracy and civic engagement — Founder TECHmIT, Adepoju

Published

12 months ago

May 9, 2023

NewsDirect

Oluwaseun David Adepoju is a creative technologist, the founder of TECHmIT Africa and a curator of a collective called ‘ghetto silience.’ The firm seeks to accelerate technological resilience in underserved communities in Africa. In an interview with MOYOSORE SALAMI, he speaks on the significant role technology played in shaping politics today

What are some of the most significant ways technology is shaping politics today?

Technology is fundamentally changing the way politics is done today. One of the most significant ways technology is shaping politics is through the use of social media platforms. Social media has become an integral part of political campaigns and a powerful tool for engaging with constituents. Additionally, data analytics and machine learning algorithms are being used to target specific voters and craft tailored messaging. This can lead to more effective campaigning but also raises concerns about manipulation and privacy.

What are some of the biggest challenges and concerns related to technology and politics?

One of the most significant challenges related to technology and politics is the issue of privacy. With the rise of big data and artificial intelligence, there is a growing concern about how personal data is being collected, used, and shared by political campaigns. There is also the issue of disinformation, where false or misleading information is spread through social media, leading to a polarised public discourse. Bias is another concern, as algorithms can perpetuate and amplify existing biases, resulting in discriminatory outcomes.

How can technology be used to promote democracy and civic engagement?

Technology can be used to promote democracy and civic engagement by facilitating access to information, enabling online voting, and fostering public discourse. Social media platforms can be used to promote political engagement and mobilise voters, while digital tools can make it easier for individuals to participate in the political process.

What are some potential solutions to the challenges posed by the intersection of tech and politics?

The intersection of technology and politics poses several challenges that require innovative solutions. One potential solution is increased transparency and accountability for tech companies, particularly in their handling of personal data and use of algorithms. This can be achieved through regulation, such as the GDPR in the EU, or through industry self-regulation. Another solution is to promote digital literacy and critical thinking skills among the public to combat disinformation and online manipulation.

What role should the government play in regulating social media and other tech platforms?

Regarding the role of government in regulating social media and other tech platforms, there is a need for balanced and informed policymaking. Governments should ensure that tech companies uphold ethical standards and protect users’ privacy and data, while also balancing free speech and innovation. It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting users and promoting innovation.

How do you see emerging technologies like AI and blockchain changing the way we live and work?

Emerging technologies like AI and blockchain have the potential to revolutionise the way we live and work. AI can automate repetitive tasks and enable more personalised experiences, while blockchain can enhance security and transparency in transactions. However, these technologies also raise concerns about job displacement, privacy, and ethical considerations around AI development and deployment. I believe we can get the best out of these technologies and understand how to regulate them better with time.

Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important concern for individuals and businesses alike. What are some of the most pressing cybersecurity issues that we need to be aware of?

Some of the most pressing cybersecurity issues we need to be aware of include data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing scams. These attacks can compromise personal data and financial information, causing significant harm to individuals and businesses alike. It is crucial to stay informed about cybersecurity threats and take proactive measures to protect ourselves and our organisations.

With the rise of remote work and the gig economy, how do you see technology shaping the future of work?

Technology is transforming the future of work by enabling remote work, freelancing, and the gig economy. With the rise of digital platforms, individuals can work from anywhere and take on projects that align with their skills and interests. Working in the future will be more of “experience” than “employment” with the rise of more distributed systems technologies. Global collaboration will continue to increase and distributed team systems at organisations will become mainstream. However, this also raises concerns about job security, income inequality, and the need for new policies and regulations to protect workers’ rights.

Do you think technology can be used to address some of the world’s challenges such as climate change, inequality?

Technology can certainly be used to address some of the world’s challenges, including climate change and inequality. For example, AI and machine learning can help optimise energy consumption and reduce waste, while blockchain can enable transparent and secure transactions in the fight against corruption and inequality. However, technology is not a silver bullet, and it needs to be complemented by broader policy and societal changes.

What is your advice for young people who are interested in pursuing a career in technology?

For young people interested in pursuing a career in technology, my advice would be to stay curious and keep learning. Technology is constantly evolving, and it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends. Building a strong foundation in computer science, mathematics, and critical thinking will provide a solid base for a career in technology. It is also crucial to develop soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, as technology often requires collaboration across different domains and disciplines.

Interview

Opposition on wild goose chase, Gov. Abiodun’s reelection is a product of a heartwarming performance — Dennis Ogunnaike

Published

12 months ago

May 1, 2023

NewsDirect

In this interview by Bankole Taiwo, the Special Assistant to Gov Dapo Abiodun on Technology Innovation and Strategy, Mr Dennis Akinwale Ogunnaike speaks on the second coming of Gov Abiodun, the commitment of the present administration to use ICT to revolutionise governance and empower the citizens among other topical issues trailing last governorship election in the state. Excerpts.

Let’s have a bit of yourself

I am Dennis Akinwale Ogunnaike, a native of Erinlu in Ward 2 of Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State but I took my ancestral lineage from Mobalufon and my maternal roots from Iperu Akesan. I have been with Gov. Dapo Abiodun since 2013 handling communication and other ICT needs for him like database management and web development among others. I started with him as a volunteer and this year makes it a decade that this great lover of humanity whose commitment to empowering the youth remains irrevocable, that is, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun has taken me in as one of his children and he has practically been everything and more to me; a good father, mentor and performance coach, just as he is to many of us around him.

During his campaign for Ogun East Senatorial seat in 2015, I was there helping with the communication aspect of the campaign but when it didn’t go through because God was actually preparing him for this present task of leading the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun brought me into his company, Heyden Petroleum where I worked on specialised projects deploying surveillance solutions and managing key ICT infrastructure projects. Actually my journey into ICT started during my secondary school days at Adeola Odutola, Ijebu-Ode. I found out that I had keen interest in computers when we got our computer labs in the early 90s, it was a new phenomenon at that time and that attracted my interest so much. I was a school prefect so I had unfettered access to the Laboratory where I would spend hours with the college instructors.

While preparing for admission into the university where I intended to study medicine because I had great O’Level results and the thinking among my circle of friends with good results was to become Medical Doctors. However, it was at this point that there was this long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), so I decided to enroll for Diploma programme in Computer Engineering organised by The Bespoke ICT Institute, an international organisation in the year 2002. The course covers ICT infrastructure management, Hardware Installation and maintenance, surveillance system, CCTV, fire alarms, quite extensive programme. I later went to University of Lagos, like I have said earlier, for me and my friends who were actually doing very fine in our studies at that time, we had As and high hopes and our dream was to study Medicine, unfortunately my JAMB scores was three marks less or so, so I eventually studied Biological sciences majoring in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Pollution Management at the University of Lagos. Alongside, I equally continued my training in ICT, I was taking the advanced courses covering web development and I worked part time on ICT projects for clients while in school, by the time I finished, I had developed keen interest in government probably because of my experience working with some senior colleagues on certain government owned projects.

Upon graduation, I had my NYSC done at Oke-Ila Orangun in Osun State with Oba Dokun Abolarin, the Orangun of Okeila whom we still maintain close contact after many years. Let me also add that I was the Overall Best Corp Member and Winner of State and National Honours for the Service Year during my NYSC.

I have had opportunities to work extensively on policy research and community relations and I was nominated for a development knowledge facilitation training organized by the United Nations Development Programme – UNDP.

Slightly before then I had been actively involved in campus politics as a member of Students Union and Students Representatives Council. I also convened the National Youth Economic Empowerment Summit in 2010 so with all that experience put together, I realised there is a place for technology use in governance if we must bridge so many gaps. So, I got so much involved in research of using ICT to better governance and help solve a number of challenges in public space. I was particular about using ICT to empower the youths, I attended further trainings at the FRCN Training school in 2013 and returned to Unilag for my Master Degree in Public and International Affairs Administration in 2013 and was working on some side projects with the Lagos State Government, I had done similar tasks with the Osun State Government during the tenure of Engr Rauf Aregbesola. So I have always kept my hands busy, It was in the course of all of these that I met my hardworking boss, Prince Dapo Abiodun in 2013 and he gave me his platform to further find expressions for my talents and interests. When God did it for us in 2019, the governor deemed it fit to appoint me as his Special Assistant in the Office of The Governor. I will eternally be grateful to him for the privilege to serve.

So, what has been the success story of this administration as far as ICT development is concerned?

Well, after the inauguration of the Governor in 2019, he told us he wanted to hit the ground running using ICT to revolutionise governance in the state and empower the teeming youthful population. He there and then said he wanted an implementable plan within his first 100 days in office. So, from the word go, Oga knew what he wanted and he wasn’t mincing words about the huge role of technology in his determined bid to enhance the prosperity of the state at all fronts. This was how we came up with the jobs portal which has been largely successful in giving the government an overview of job seekers vis a vis the available opportunities at any given time within the state. We also came up with the TechHub at Kobape, opposite the Judiciary Complex, essentially to save the moribund model school built but abandoned by the last administration from total decay, the Hub has played host to over 20,000 people who have been trained and they cut across all strata of the society. We have seen quite many who have been able to develop some apps there too, that place is playing a very huge role in empowering our youths. You see kids of 8 to 12 years coming to the TechHub learning coding, designing games, websites and the likes. One thing the Governor is also doing exceedingly well is in the provision of ICT infrastructure across the length and breadth of the state, you can see the fibre optic cables being laid across the state, just look out of your window when traveling, you will see the men working, the Governor’s dream is to ensure that once you are in Ogun State, you have access to unhindered internet. The passion with which this is being done is first of its kind, these are parts of what the government of Gov Abiodun will be delivering in the second term. Plans are underway to have the TechHub at the remaining Senatorial districts of Ogun East and West, so our eyes have been on the ball so to say.

There are other ICT driven initiatives of Government like the DigiClass, which kept our students engaged during the ravaging Covid -19 pandemic, the OLAMS system deployed for Land Administration, Education Management Systems, The Courts Management Systems even in Health and Agriculture, there is not a single sector that has not received the digitisation injection of the Governor.

How do you see the last governorship in the state?

Well, I had a custom built feedback system where I aggregate information from the 236 Wards in the state that had given me a hint of what is likely to be the outcome of the governorship election. This has a lot to do with the research that I carried out between 2021-2022, I went across the 236 Wards, interacted with different focus groups so it is the aggregate of these views that formed the foundation of my report which tilted towards the governor coming back for the second term. Yes, the contest might be keen but the good works of the Governor in almost four years will stand him out and so it happened exactly that way. From my interactions with the media before the election, I have always maintained that the second term of Gov Abiodun was not in any way threatened. Of course we have reports of some set of people doing all soughts to undermine the last governorship election, engaging in vote buying and all that but the people still spoke with their votes affirming their support for the second term of the governor. So, there’s no case of stolen mandate anywhere, rather the opposition was rejected at the poll because of the sterling performance of Mr. Governor in his first term. As we speak in all 20 local government areas of the state, there is not a single one that has not recieved the good works of Gov. Dapo Abiodun, it’s either the projects there are ongoing or completed. This wasn’t the case under the immediate past government where development were visibly concentrated in certain areas of the state. The Governor has been very strategic in delivering good governance to the people of Ogun State, steadily implementing his ISEYA agenda cutting across road construction, qualitative healthcare, education, housing, agriculture, youth development among others. He might not be someone given to standing on the rooftop and be shouting I have done this and done that because he believes that he was elected into office to do those things, so why the noise again?

So in a nutshell, what does the Governor’s second coming mean to Ogun people?

I must first of all thank the people of Ogun State for speaking in unison with their votes to have Gov Dapo Abiodun for another four years. It shows that they are quite intelligent and appreciate the good works of the governor in the last four years. Definitely, the second coming of Gov Abiodun means continuation of the good works across all the sectors. Look at the road from Ilishan to Ago Iwoye that passes through the Campus of the Olabisi Onabanjo University into Ago Iwoye that was completely abandoned and was endangering the lives of many of our students that have recieved the magic wand of the Governor, and the remarkable Agbara-Atan-Lusada main Arterial express way in Ogun West that are under construction, the 2nd Term of the Governor will certainly witness the completion of these projects. How about the world class International Agro-Cargo Airport which is capable of generating over 25,000 jobs. Recall that Mr Bayo Ogunlesi, son of the renowned first Professor of Medicine, Prof Theophilus Ogunlesi who was buried at almost 100 about two weeks ago, was briefly at the airport to see things for himself. Mr Bayo Ogunlesi is the owner of Gatwick Airport, London and many others in the world. He was so fascinated with the project that he bowed for the governor saying that he had not seen such a huge airport done within such a time frame. So, this huge project will begin to bear fruits in the second term couple with more houses, schools, roads, hospitals, so much more empowerment for our youths, so much consolidation on the good works of last four years because we have a governor that is not joking with the business of taking our dear state to greater heights.

Given all kinds of talks around Tinubu’s presidency, what do you think the incoming government at the centre will look like?

Fortunately, I served as the Co-ordinating Secretary of the Jagaban Army in the state, that is the APC National Youths Campaign Council foot soldiers. You see, I grew up in Lagos, I went to the University of Lagos and I am very aware of all the magic wands of our President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007. Before his tenure, Lagos was a very chaotic environment to commute back then, but with strong political will and being a manager of resource par excellence, Lagos began to wear a new look. The hospitals and schools took new shapes, the security started improving, how about the environmental and waste management initiatives? There were places you can’t pass by then without your handkerchief covering your nose until Asiwaju came. I mean, we saw a new commitment to give Lagos the status of that mega city and centre of excellence. I can go on and on. There’s no doubting the fact that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself is the symbolism of modern governance that is solely committed to giving humanity the very best. Here is a master political strategist and astute administrator who knows how to get good brains to assist in delivering good governance to the people.

But some people say he is old?

Well, his age has nothing to do with what is on ground, ultimately because he would not govern alone, I have the confidence that he would assemble a competent team with whom he would implement his policies and programme. I tell you we have gotten a good opportunity to lift the country higher and expand its frontiers in the next four years, renewable by another four. I am optimistic that this is the best moment Nigerians have been waiting for and we shall all be living witnesses of a more prosperous, economically viable, stronger and united Nigeria under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The opposition in the state, particularly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not convinced that your party won the last governorship election and had said that the victory party would be for a while, saying that they will soon reclaim the mandate before the tribunal, what did you say to this?

Talk is said to be cheap and you can see that I was just laughing when you asked this question because once you are sinking like the opposition in the state, you want to grab at anything and hold on to anything in sight. They are only giving their followers a false hope because the truth is that Gov Abiodun won the last governorship election squarely. It is the people’s mandate that will last another four years by the special grace of God.

I sincerely wish the opposition will cooperate with the Governor to further develop the state rather than embarking on another exercise in futility. The Governor has always thrown his arms wide open for the everyone with meaningful ideas to bring same forward for the greater good of our state, but if they choose to embark on another share waste of resources and productive time, goodluck to them but I am confident in God that this DA mandate of 2023 to 2027 remains unshakable! Though the election came with its own perculiarities, the truth will always remain the truth and books don’t lie, Gov Dapo Abiodun won the last governorship election by dint of hardwork, the gambling opposition people are only on a wild goose chase.