Lagos State House of Assembly has approved Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s request to enter an agreement with Western Telecoms and Engineering Services Metro Limited for the implementation of the contract for the Lagos State Unified Fibre Infrastructure and Connectivity project in accordance with the Public Private Law of the State.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa issued the approval during Plenary saying “Pursuant to Section 27 of the Public Private Partnership Law, 2015, this House hereby approves Mr. Governor’s request for ratification of the agreement of Lagos State Unified Fibre Infrastructure and Connectivity Project.”
Rt. Hon. Obasa further explained that the approval of the request was for the State to address the deployment of Unified Fibre duct infrastructure for carrying telecommunications cables and other relevant wired infrastructure to support operators of telecommunications and other relevant utilities, as well as provide infrastructure and connectivity requirements for Lagos State.
Presenting the report, Hon. Lukmoh Olumoh, Chairman, House Committee on Public Private Partnership stated that the project is designed to enhance the effort of the government in realizing the full potentials of the State in terms of Fibre infrastructure and telecom connectivity to become full smart city as envisioned by successive administrations in the State since 1999.
According to Hon. Gbolahan Yisahwu, he stated that Fibre is the biggest thing that is happening everywhere as it carries very large bandwidth that encourages connectivity in all ways imaginable which will invariably improve E-Commerce in the State. “The State is not bearing any cost which is a good thing for us as this will shore up revenues as we are trying to improve it in all legal manners available to us.” He said.
Hon. Rotimi Olowo, who commended the impact of the Committee on the report emphasized that the project is a laudable multi-utility duct infrastructure which will allow Lagos State to grow and move faster than its contemporaries as well as allow the economy to grow.
“The cost of rehabilitation of our roads is enormous on the budget of the State and it has been associated with activities of people digging up roads for one construction of wires or the other. If this project is executed it will habitually reduce the cost of our rehabilitation of roads.” He said.
In his view, Hon. Tunde Braimoh established that the people should be enlightened and given adequate information to allay fears concerning conspiracy theories associated with the infrastructure and 5G Network in order not to stand against the will of the people.
Hon. David Setonji maintained that the essence of the project is for Lagos State to economize the infrastructure to telecommunication companies instead of indiscriminately destroys roads for individual usage.
Adding to the deliberations of the Members, Hon. Folajimi Mohammed expressed that Private Companies who are willing to put down their money for infrastructures which will unvaryingly increase the revenue of the Government should be encouraged as well as any form of unity with Public Private Partnership which will not be a burden to the State.
