Press Releases

‘We Will Capture All Lands To Bring Prosperity To The People’ - Fashola

Jun 10, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday asserted that the State Government is poised to ensure that it captures all lands in the state into a geographical information system in order to bring prosperity to the people.

The Governor who spoke at the second Stakeholders Forum on Digital Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) project held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa added that the power of the Lagos economy depends on to what extent land can be turned into an instrument of prosperity.

Governor Fashola added that most people often lament about their inability to secure collaterals for bank facilities without realizing that the personal houses and buildings which were bequeathed to them or which they own can become useful collaterals once the titles are perfected.

He added such properties will become useful documents which are tenable before banks with the new GIS Mapping system.

He added that the state would continue to think ahead and position the people and young ones in such a way that they would be able to deal with challenges of the future.

While asking the people to reflect on how the world is fast becoming a global village, Governor Fashola said what happens in one part of the world now affects people in all parts of the world.

Governor Fashola, who described Digital Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) as the provision of infrastructure, said it would determine how several issues and policy would be tackled by the State Government.

He said its optimum usage would determine how efficiently government can evacuate and properly dispose refuse without negatively impacting the society as well as provide water and power supply.

He explained that the successful application of GIS in the state can only ensure that the government becomes more responsive to the needs of the people for whom it principally exists.

Governor Fashola who said the road to the adoption of the digital mapping and GIS started many years ago, opined that it represents a total life change about the way the people live and confront challenges of an increasingly changing planet.

He said the possibilities are endless as people can now search for titles on lands electronically without physically coming to Alausa and thus impacting on the number of vehicles that may not have to be physically on the road for similar reasons.

Governor Fashola also said this would ultimately decide whether the government needs to build more roads as it is generally being clamoured for or to make a choice of providing drinkable water and hospitals to the people.

He said it means that architects would not have to go into the bush anymore in order to have a clear view of some sites.

Governor Fashola also commended the Special Adviser on GIS Project, Surveyor Durowoju for the selfless manner he contributed to the success of the project, saying he is an exemplary example of how dutiful and committed some public servants can be.

Also speaking the Commissioner for Science and Technology who also doubled as the Chairman of the Technical Committee on the project, Dr Obafemi Hamzat said the use of GIS would revolutionize the process of date acquisition, processing, storage dissemination and use of GIS in digital format for planning and decision making.

He added that the state is at the same time putting in place a State-Geo-Information policy as well as the establishment of a Lagos Enterprise GIS database backed by a policy which will certainly eliminate most of the problems experienced by Geo-Information producers and users in the state today.

In his remarks, the director of JRAPHA Geomatics system limited, Dr P.C. Nwilo said kudos should be given to Governor Fashola (SAN) for setting a standard which would be very difficult for any state to surpass in terms of GIS and Digital Mapping.

He added that even the Abuja GIS cannot be compared to what is happening in Lagos, explaining that the mapping is being conducted at the level of developed countries.

He also said the State Governor has ensured that there was no preference for any of the contractors who sought to bid for the job as he provided a level playing ground and was always monitoring the progress of work.

In a presentation, a consultant on the project, Mr Zul Jiwani said GIS has succeeded only in countries and places where there are champions, saying Lagos has a champion in Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

He added that with GIS almost everything is possible and also includes someone doing something somewhere and which can be accessed at the push of a button.

Mr Jiwani who described mapping as the record of human activity on the surface of the earth added that the whole world is moving towards the adoption of GIS mapping option.