The goal is to enhance taxation, safety, prevent rental fraud, and improve urban planning in governance as well as public service delivery.

The unveiling took place in Alausa and was led by Dr Olajide Babajide, special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Enterprise Geographic Information System (e-GIS). 

The state is starting with a pilot rollout in Eti-Osa Local Government Area and aims to scale across all 57 LGAs and LCDAs once initial results are reviewed.

Unlike traditional address systems, the Lagos Identity Project embeds QR codes into address plates. Each plate is colour-coded by local government area. When scanned, it reveals verified property details instantly, enabling faster location identification for emergency services, utilities, delivery agents, and security teams.

“We’ve had issues ranging from tax evasion to untraceable addresses. This new digital system is the solution,” said Babajide.

This statement reiterates the core problem the government is attempting to fix. Unstructured property data has led to inefficiencies in taxation, further causing delays in emergency response, and enabling various forms of urban fraud. Now, Lagos wants to fix this.

The project’s technical foundation was laid through a two-year aerial mapping exercise carried out by Interspatial, the state’s private sector partner. 

Babajide stated that the system meets global standards for civic identification and data protection, adding, “This isn’t just a project; it’s a legacy that aligns with international benchmarks.”

The system’s design also contains Know Your Customer (KYC) features, allowing verification of property occupants and owners, while maintaining compliance with global privacy regulations. This is particularly important for densely packed areas where informal housing dominates and identity verification is near impossible.

Mr Yinka Adesiyan, a co-sponsor and technical partner, stressed the long-term value of the project: “This project goes beyond house numbers. It makes Lagos safer, smarter, and more transparent.”

He added, “Emergency responders, utility workers, and even residents will be able to navigate the city more effectively.”

Implementation is not being left to chance. Young people trained under the state-backed Ibile programme are handling enumeration and installation duties. This helps ensure data reliability while promoting community ownership and inclusion.

Importantly, the state government has chosen to fully fund the project, which Babajide views as a sign of real political will: “Technology costs money, and this investment shows the government’s will to improve planning and services.”

With Lagos still dealing with high population and infrastructural pressure, this project may be one of the most practical, and overdue, steps toward making the city more navigable, fair, and future-ready. 

But its success will depend not just on QR codes or aerial maps, but on how seriously residents and officials use what it enables.

Aiming to strengthen digital infrastructure and laying the groundwork for a smarter, more connected city, the deal, facilitated by the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), was revealed by Engr. Olufemi Daramola, special adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, during a press briefing marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

We’re looking at an innovative initiative where Lagos is setting itself up to become a digital backbone not just for Nigeria, but for West Africa. With 3,000km of fibre ducts already laid, 2,700km more incoming, there’s a wider rollout plan targeting 6,800km in total.

“In the same vein, the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (LASIMRA) has also made significant boost in the state’s investment in Fibre Duct Expansion: with an additional 2,700km installations planned, building on 3,000km completed by WTES, to enhance connectivity while also securing a commitment of $22 million foreign direct investment for quality fibre installations in Lagos State,” Daramola stated.

Beyond the cables and trenches, what’s at stake is how this investment impacts the socioeconomic blueprint of Lagos. A larger fibre footprint means greater broadband access in underserved areas, where connectivity has long been a luxury. 

Between 2023 and 2025 alone, over a million new internet subscriptions were recorded as fibre access deepened.

But the government is not looking at just faster internet speeds, it wants to build a fully digitised city. Lagos is already deploying smart surveillance and traffic enforcement systems across areas like Alapere and Allen Avenue, bringing tech into public safety and traffic control. 

Over 450 smart cameras are already operational, and 14 state agencies have digitised their services, early indicators of a state rewiring its governance model for the future.

In 2023, Lagos drew over $1.2 billion in startup investments, three-quarters of Nigeria’s total funding for tech startups. And with four data centres under construction and plans for an additional 1,200km of fibre in 2025, it’s evident that this is a digital ecosystem in the making.

“We are advancing the Safe City Project, extending our fibre optic backbone, and investing in critical infrastructure, not just for today but to prepare Lagos for the digital future,” another official noted at the briefing.

But none of this comes easy. The state has warned against infrastructure vandalism and theft, risks that have cost millions in the past. New measures include using composite materials for manhole covers and handrails to deter theft.

The vision fits into the THEMES+ Agenda, Sanwo-Olu’s roadmap for making Lagos a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive megacity.

This includes the rehabilitation of 1,163 roads since 2023 and the transformation of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation from mere maintenance to full-scale road construction.