By Moses Adeniyi

To further run an inclusive governance system structured on the thrust of accountability, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has launched an upgrade on a citizen communication channel to entertain complaints and other engagements on government processes.

The multichannel platform named “Citizens’ Gate 2.0 App” is a development on the 1.0 version designed to accommodate interactions between the government and the citizens to solve problems and challenges.

The pillars of Citizens Gate application, according to the State Government, centres on Citizen’s participation, Open Communication and Transparency on the part of the government.

The platform, it was gathered, would entertain complaints and submissions from the Citizens, while the government on its part would respond through the appropriate Ministry(s), Department(s) or Agency(s) (MDA) of concern on particular subject of interest.

The multichannel platform designed for forward and backward linkage communication is built on interministerial framework on the part of the government, tailored to offer Social benefits as Feedback Mechanism, Population Profiling, Captures Accurate Public Opinion, Tracking and Enforcing of Government Performances, Security/Community Policing, LASRRA registration and verification, and Access to day-to-day activities across MDAs.

Some of the channels to be used by the platform include its Website, Mobile app, WhatsApp and other social media platforms, including a 767 toll-free line, serving as non-emergency number.

At a press conference held on Thursday at Ikeja, the State Capital, to unveil the Soft Launch of the Upgraded Lagos CitizensGate platform, the Special Adviser (SA) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on civic engagement, Princess (Dr.) Aderemi Adebowale said the platform was conceived to have an all-inclusive government in the State where citizens can participate pragmatically in the process of governance.

According to the SA, “the CitizensGate 2.0 Platform” is an application that interface with the citizens of Lagos State and expected to take governance to the doorstep of Lagosians irrespective of their social class for all-inclusive governance, “while bringing governance closer to the governed.”

She said the platform is a web and app-based e-governance channel that enables access to, “and delivery of public goods i.e government information, public assets and service through a well-defined customer relationship management infrastructure that capitalizes on both physical ICT hardware and soft human skills.”

“It features an omnichannel solution that listens to citizens’ feedback such as complaints, enquires suggestions and compliments,” she said.

She said in order to have an all-inclusive government in the State with conscious effort to establish, deepen and sustain its mode of engagement and communication with various stakeholders while providing a feedback mechanism on the activities and policies of the Government, “the need for a more interactive Lagos State Citizens Gate 2.0 App irrespective of the kind of phone you use,” was important.

She added that the Citizens Gate platform will enable citizens to navigate all existing MDAs website “and build a road map for a greater citizen’s engagement as a One Stop-Shop for everything about Lagos State, addressing several issues, enquires, complaints, suggestions, commendations and giving the citizens and visitors “Real Time direct access to Lagos State Government and its activities through both smart phone and non-smart phone users on a 24/7 toll free non-emergency number to put a call across to the Citizens Gate Customer Service Centre for enquiries or complaints at the command and control centre.”

“We expect that the One Stop–Shop aspect of the Citizens Gate will allow end users to sit comfortably at home or on their handheld mobile device, navigate and connect with all MDAs at a go without any difficulties.

“The platform will be made available free to citizen, tourists, friends of Lagos including people in diaspora and everyone via Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Social Media Platforms and more,” she added.

According to her, the platform is expected to deliver economic and social benefits to the entire citizens of Lagos State and investors as a drive towards the Smart City Status.

She appreciated the State Government, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what she described as “his unflinching support” on the completion of the project by graciously approving fund, while acknowledging other stakeholders.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Lagos, Mr. Hakeem Fahm, said the platform is a mechanism to leverage technology for most government activities.

He said the platform is structured to boost accountability and integrity on the part of government, while providing citizens opportunities for participation in governance to fulfill their obligations.

AppreciatIng the office of Civic Engagement for the custody of the platform, he assured his Ministry’s support to do due diligence for its expansion and management.

On her part, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Engr (Mrs) Aramide Adeyoye described the platform as a merchanism of bringing “participatory governance to the door step of citizens,” adjudging it “a two-way communication channel” with larger coverage to attend to cases of oversight on the part of government.

She added that it is another good way for heads of MDAs to monitor performance and responsibilities of workers, encouraging Lagosians to make good use of it.

Remarking, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso said the platform would do good to bridge gaps identified between the government and the people.

“It’s all about you people of Lagos, it’s all about service; about what the government is doing. We all need to participate one way or the other to make the Lagos of our dream come true,” he said, noting that the platform forms a part of the Smart City project to use technology to solve State problems.

Noting that communication would not be complete except with the thrust of feedback, Omotoso said the process of governance would be made holistic through response on the part of the government to such feedbacks from the citizens.

Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Engr. Adekunle Olayinka, said the platform is a veritable channel of communication that should be replicated and integrated on regional level in Southwestern States to harmonise processes to critical issues as security challenges and internally generated revenue, among others.

Team Lead of the technical partner, Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation (OTCI), Thompson Idowu, said the platform is structured for the first time to give access to citizens to the Lagos State Government and enhance transparency, making government more responsible.