Lagos to install 10,000 CCTV cameras across 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.

(DAILY SUN)