The launch event, attended by stakeholders from MTN, Lagos State Government officials, and members of the public, showcased the app’s features which could bolster how residents and visitors navigate and experience Lagos.

A Smart Solution for a Smart City

MyLagosApp is a one-stop platform designed to improve connectivity, accessibility, and efficiency for Lagosians. It provides a comprehensive range of services, from discovering local businesses and events to facilitating seamless transportation and digital payments.

The goal was to create an app that makes a difference and solves real-life problems for Lagosians, solving mobility challenges to discovering entertainment, businesses, and making payments, the app is built to redefine the Lagos experience.

MyLagosApp was developed by MTN’s in-house IT team in collaboration with local developers, leveraging MTN’s digital infrastructure to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Key Features of MyLagosApp

1. City Navigation and Real-Time Traffic Updates

Unlike traditional navigation apps, MyLagosApp provides users with real-time updates on traffic conditions and their causes, helping commuters make informed travel decisions. This is particularly important for Lagos, a city known for its bustling roads and unpredictable congestion.

2. Discovering Lagos – Events, Restaurants, and Businesses

The app provides users with a comprehensive directory of entertainment spots, restaurants, hotels, and local businesses. It aims to boost visibility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them with potential customers.

3. Digital Payments and Government Services

Leveraging MTN’s fintech capabilities, the app enables users to pay for government levies, transport services, and other essential transactions effortlessly. This is expected to reduce cash dependency and streamline service delivery.

4. Emergency and Essential Services Access

In case of emergencies, users can quickly locate nearby hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and other critical services, making Lagos a safer and more responsive city.

5. Business & Employment Support 

SMEs and entrepreneurs can use the platform to register businesses, access funding opportunities, and apply for permits.

6. Waste Management & Environmental Services 

Report waste disposal issues, track LAWMA services, and access environmental policies.

7. E-Government & Civic Engagement 

The app ensures transparency by allowing residents to report infrastructure problems, participate in policy discussions, and engage with government officials.

Speaking at the launch event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, described MyLagosApp as a game changer for governance, saying:

“This app shows our zeal to leverage technology to make life easier for Lagosians. By digitising essential services, we are ensuring efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity in governance.

“By strategically harnessing technology, we are not only enhancing governance and improving service delivery but also simplifying and enriching the lives of every resident in this very vibrant state,” Hamzat said.

“The MyLagosApp is designed to be an inclusive platform, ensuring that residents across all parts of Lagos—from the mainland to the island—can access government services efficiently.”

MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, commented on the company’s part in ensuring excellent digital infrastructure and seamless connectivity.

“The future is now, and we are capturing the future of e-government, of entertainment, of driving commercial activity with the launch of MyLagosApp.

“On behalf of MTN, we want to thank you for the opportunity to partner in this form. We are deeply invested in Lagos State’s journey.”

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, pointed out how MyLagosApp will improve urban mobility.

“The app aligns with our multimodal transportation approach, integrating various transport options and providing real-time insights into traffic conditions,” he noted. 

“Additionally, the data generated from the app will support predictive models for better urban planning and transportation policies.”

Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity

The app was also built for elderly individuals and persons with disabilities by offering features that help them navigate Lagos more efficiently. “The inclusivity features ensure that everyone, regardless of their mobility challenges, can move around the city with ease,” the commissioner added.

MTN’s Focus on Digital Connectivity and Inclusion

MTN Nigeria’s Chief Digital Officer, Aisha Mumuni, highlighted the technological infrastructure supporting MyLagosApp.

“Ensuring seamless connectivity is essential,” she said. “We are working on subsidized data plans and Wi-Fi hotspots to support widespread app adoption. Digital literacy initiatives will also be introduced to help underserved communities maximize the benefits of this transformation.”

Environmental and Urban Planning Impact

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment Tokunbo Philip Wahab, explained how MyLagosApp will aid in environmental monitoring and urban planning. 

In leveraging the app’s data, the government can track waste management trends, monitor pollution levels, and engage with residents more effectively on pressing environmental issues.

As one of Africa’s leading megacities, Lagos is taking hold of digital growth to enhance urban living. MyLagosApp is a tool for enhancing how people experience Lagos, both residents and visitors, making the city more connected, accessible, and efficient.

How to Access MyLagosApp

The app is available for download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users can sign up using their email address, with additional verification steps to ensure security.

The MyLagosApp is a comprehensive digital platform designed to integrate services across various sectors, making Lagos more accessible and efficient for residents and visitors. 

Toriola described it as a “one-stop centre for information, services, entertainment, hospitality, e-government, and pretty much everything that you can imagine you would want to be a Lagos State.”

He noted its potential to transform life in the state, supporting millions of residents as they navigate daily activities.

With Lagos now classified as a hypercity due to its population of over 20 million, Toriola stressed the state’s economic importance. “A few years ago, the economy of Lagos State was larger than that of Kenya. The whole country of Kenya,” he noted the state’s financial influence.

As a major partner in Lagos’ digital transformation, MTN Nigeria is investing heavily in connectivity infrastructure. Toriola revealed that MTN operates over 17,000 network sites nationwide and is continuously expanding its broadband coverage.

“We are continuously optimizing infrastructure for the country and for Lagos State in particular,” he stated, reaffirming MTN’s focus on deep-rooted investments.

One of MTN’s landmark projects is the development of West Africa’s largest data centre on the Lagos mainland. According to Toriola, “It’s going to be the most advanced data centre across the entire West Africa,” further noting Lagos’ status as a tech and innovation hub.

Beyond infrastructure, MTN is focused on addressing Nigeria’s shortage of highly skilled technical talent. Toriola reiterated the company’s dedication to partnering with the government to drive digital transformation. 

He urged stakeholders to ensure MyLagosApp’s decentralized adoption, saying, “The future is now, and we are capturing the future of e-government, of entertainment, of driving commercial activity with the launch of MyLagosApp.”

“On behalf of MTN, we want to thank you for the opportunity to partner in this form. We are deeply invested in Lagos State’s journey.”

Speaking at the official launch of MyLagosApp on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, stressed the need for technology-driven governance to manage the challenges that come with Lagos’ unending growth.

“What we manage in Lagos is bigger than most countries in Africa,” he stated, noting that beyond GDP comparisons, the volume of services and infrastructure the state oversees requires innovative solutions.

The governor highlighted key urban issues, including waste management and education, stating that Lagos generates “13,000 metric tonnes of waste daily” and has a primary school population equivalent to “84% of a population.”

With the launch of MyLagosApp, the government aims to streamline access to essential city services, from real-time traffic updates and emergency response coordination to utility payments and business listings. 

The app, developed in collaboration with MTN and several government agencies, is built as a very important link between residents and public services.

“By strategically harnessing technology, we are not only enhancing governance and improving service delivery but also simplifying and enriching the lives of every resident in this very vibrant state,” Hamzat said.

The MyLagosApp is designed to be an inclusive platform, ensuring that residents across all parts of Lagos—“from people on the mainland to the island—can access government services efficiently.”

The governor urged Lagosians to “embrace this app, download it, use it, explore it, and fully utilize the services it offers,” stressing that innovation is a continuous journey and community involvement is essential to the app’s success.

As part of the state’s digital transformation initiatives, Hamzat also revealed plans to integrate real-time tracking for the newly introduced ‘little buses’ under the state’s transportation system, ensuring commuters can access information on bus routes and schedules.

The deputy governor reiterated the administration’s focus on making Lagos a smarter, more efficient, and inclusive city, serving as a model for urban innovation in Africa.