Lagos To Install 10,000 CCTV Cameras Across The State

The Lagos State Government yesterday said it had concluded plans to
install 10,000 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras statewide as part
of measures to ensure that the state is secure against the activities of
terrorists in the light of the insurgency rocking the country
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade,
said this while giving a breakdown of the 2016 budget, tagged ’The
Peoples’ Budget’, saying the government will also activate the existing
1,000 CCTV cameras already installed in the state.
According to him, “We will be expanding our ICT infrastructure statewide.
Consequently, a budget of N9.6 billion has been approved for this purpose
in 2016. This will include a Smart City project targeted at deploying
technology to enhance security in the state. It will also aid our revenue
generating efforts.
“We will be increasing coverage of CCTV installations in the state. Our
goal is to have over 10,000 active cameras, connected by Broadband. The
existing 1,000 cameras will be reactivated and these will be increased by
an additional 3,000 cameras after the completion of the first phase of this
project.”
Speaking on the need to beef up security and maintain law and order, the
Commissioner said ”We are all aware of the security challenges in the
country, and to manage this in the state we have committed about N23.5
billion for the maintenance of law and order, and to support security
services in the area of vehicles, security gadgets and logistics.
“We shall continue to enhance the welfare of our security agents by
providing allowances, fuelling of patrol vehicles and giving adequate life
insurance covers to motivate them in 2016. We will provide more buildings
for Police Area Commands in our state to enhance their performance. This
budget also includes projects that will enhance security of lives and
property in other areas of governance as previously enumerated.
“You will recall that this administration handed over equipment worth
N4.765 billion to the Lagos State Police Command in the last quarter of
2015. In addition to the activities mentioned earlier, we have also made
provisions for the completion of on-going court projects in Igando, Imota,
Ajegunle, as well as Judges’ Quarters at Falomo, to complement those
that had been completed.”
The Commissioner added that attention will be given to improving disaster
management, purchase of firefighting, occupational and public safety
equipment, and the construction of new fire stations and relief camps
across the state.
Ashade said geographic information systems and business solutions will be
given special attention in the course of the year.
According to him, activities to be covered under the platform include the
expansion of the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA)
residents’ registration exercise, the issuance of permanent resident’s
cards, and the consolidation of public financial management system
reforms.
He said the sum of N6.5 billion has been provided for in the budget for
2016.