By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Deputy Governor of Lagos State and state All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for the 2027 election, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has disclosed that Lagos is expanding a unified digital infrastructure to support connectivity, entrepreneurship, healthcare access, smart-city services and public safety across the state.
Hamzat made the disclosure on Friday, 25 September, 2026, while speaking at PODFEST Naija 2026, held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, where he gave a recap of the state government’s digital connectivity efforts under his administration.
On fibre network expansion, the Deputy Governor disclosed that Lagos laid more than 3,000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure between 2019 and 2025 and is approaching a 6,000-kilometre target, developed through the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) and a $22 million direct investment for additional cable expansion.
He explained that the fibre connectivity was intended to support faster content creator uploads, lower startup costs, and improved access for schools, health centres and hospitals, disclosing that hospitals were being linked to enable patient records to be retrieved across locations using a patient’s name and record number, regardless of where the patient resides.
On security, Hamzat disclosed that the state was investing heavily in safety measures, a development he said had boosted economic activity and made Lagos the safest state in the country.
He explained that the state was deploying geographic information systems, 5G-enabled smart poles and other smart-city systems to manage infrastructure and data, disclosing that about 650 cameras had been deployed towards a target of 3,000, with expansion being implemented in batches.
Speaking on research and startup support, the Deputy Governor disclosed that the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) was supporting at least 90 research and development projects, while more than 200,000 small and medium-sized businesses had received N15 billion in loans and grants, alongside finance and skills support.
On transportation and digital payments, Hamzat disclosed that the Blue and Red rail lines had transformed how thousands of Lagosians travel, with about 6.2 million residents currently using Cowry Cards, as the state works towards a single payment method covering the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), ferry and rail services.
