Stakeholders on Tuesday, unveiled a Strategic Road Map for the implementation of Abuja Smart City Project, with an emphasis on the critical role of data for effective implementation of the project.
The document was unveiled along with the logo and official website of the project, during the 2024 Nigeria Data Expo and Conference in Abuja, where ICT giants and government agencies including Federal Capital Development Authority, the National Bureau of Statistics, National Information Technology Development Agency, and several others threw their weight behind the project.
Chief Executive Officer, Havel Corporate Concept and convener of Abuja Smart City Project, Dr Ahmed Badanga, explained that the vision was to transform Abuja to a smart city by 2040.
He said that the FCT has the infrastructure required for a smart city giving the massive investment in infrastructure development in the FCT in recent times.
“Only a few services and transactions taking place in Abuja, from the studies and data we have collected, are being done digitally.
“So many services are being delivered manually and for that reason, we feel it is time to digitalise services in Abuja,” he said.
Badanga also noted that nothing would be achieved without data, adding that the data expo and conference was to create awareness on the link between data and the smart city project.
He said: “You cannot talk about smart cities without talking about data; they are intertwined.
“We have been promoting data awareness and promoting data issues in Nigeria for about 10 years now and we feel there is a need for us to also see how we can utilise the opportunity of having the right infrastructure to transit Abuja to a smart city.
“Our vision is to transit Abuja into a smart city where everybody will be using technology to access various services in the comfort of their houses.”
On his part, the National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said that data was everything, saying, “without data, you can’t plan; without data, you can’t have a policy.
“So, what we are doing here today, is really important and strategic for national planning, socio-economic development and sustainable development of the country.”
Olatunji noted that Abuja was growing, adding that “if you don’t plan for the way the city is growing, there may be chaos in the future.
“If you plan, you will envisage the number of people that come in, you look at the kind of infrastructure you want to put in place.
“You will also look at the kind of social amenities you want to put in place, the kind of security that you want to put in place, business opportunities in the city, housing urbanisation and the rest.”
On his part, Mr Robb Moore, Data Specialist and Smart Grid Specialist, United States of America, said that beyond data and technology, Nigeria and the FCT needed innovative minds to make the difference.
“If you don’t have the people here in Nigeria that are willing to take the chance, make the business, make it grow, risk everything, you won’t have the creators or the agents that make things grow.
“So, you will have to be willing to listen to very unpopular ideas; you must be able to listen to people who are telling you what others are not telling you to make a difference,” Moore said.
Meanwhile, Nasiru Usman, Vice-Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council described the Abuja Smart City Initiative as crucial towards transforming Abuja to a befitting capital city.
Usman said that AMAC had partnered with relevant government agencies on data generation and management to address security concerns in the area.
On adoption of technology, the vice-chairman said that efforts are ongoing to empower residents of the council with information and communication technology skills.
“This will enable the people to tap from the opportunities the digital-driven world provides,” he said.
