Lagos, NDPC, NITDA, others partner on revenue generation
The Lagos State government has embarked on an initiative that will require the use of technology partnerships with the Organized Private Sector (OPS), the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to enhance its revenue generation capabilities.
This collaboration will require the use of digitisation and e-governance tools to drive economic growth while protecting citizens’ data in line with the NDPC’s regulatory framework.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Opeyemi Ogungbo disclosed this yesterday during day-two of the “Eko Revenue Plus” summit, held in Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said the stakeholders’ collaboration demonstrates a commitment to leveraging technology and partnerships for sustainable revenue growth.
National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, emphasized the importance of aligning the state’s initiatives with the national data protection law recently signed by the President. He urged the state to adhere to the established framework rather than creating separate legislation.
“And we at the Nigerian Data Protection Commission are here, and we have to support you, and by extension, the government of Nigeria. We are ready and more than happy to support Lagos State,” he assured.
He highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect Nigerians’ online data and raise awareness about data privacy. Expressing his enthusiasm for Lagos’ progress, Olatunji added, “We hope to take this conversation forward.”
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, lauded the state for its advancements in infrastructure and e-governance. He pledged continued support from NITDA to bolster the state’s digitization efforts, acknowledging the critical role of technology in driving economic development.
Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Ayodele Subair, emphasized the transformative potential of collaboration between public institutions and private enterprises, adding, “The synergy between public institutions and private enterprises has the power to revolutionize how we harness resources, engage stakeholders, and create enduring value for the citizens of our great state.”
He lauded the summit organizers for bringing together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and stakeholders to devise actionable solutions. “By fostering dialogue and innovation, we are collectively taking bold steps to reimagine the future of economic growth and revenue generation in Lagos State. Together, we will build a Lagos State that is not only self-sufficient but also a beacon of prosperity and innovation for others to emulate,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s technological investments, Subair noted that these advancements simplify compliance for residents. He pointed to the Lagos State Revenue Portal and the e-tax platform as examples of innovations that streamline tax administration.
“With a lot of great work done by the Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, the Lagos State Revenue Portal has been created to settle all non-tax revenue, such as land administration fees, etc., as well as the e-tax platform—an end-to-end tax administration solution. This platform allows for registration, raising of assessments, payment of taxes, issuance of receipts, and generation of tax clearance certificates, all from the comfort of your homes,” he explained.
He urged Lagos residents to fulfill their civic responsibilities by filing annual tax returns and paying their taxes, emphasizing, “This is the only way we can guarantee the development of Lagos into a true megacity through the provision of highly qualitative social services such as schools, hospitals, and first-class infrastructure.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, acknowledged the state’s substantial spending due to its growing population of over 30 million people. He highlighted the daily movement of livestock and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases as unique challenges requiring strategic planning.
He revealed that Lagos has a 30-year development plan anchored on infrastructure, public-private partnerships (PPP), medical diagnostics, digital platforms, alternative financing access, and human resources for health.
“It is only through digitalization that we can really move to the next stage of medical ingenuity and competition around the world,” he remarked.
Abayomi also highlighted the state’s leadership in data protection compliance. “We have gone through personal data protection compliance. We were one of the first agencies to do that,” he said.
