Lagos partners NDPA, NITDA to increase revenue mobilisation

The Lagos State government has embarked on a fresh initiative to enhance its revenue generation capabilities in partnership with the Organised Private Sector (OPS), the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

This collaboration focuses on harnessing digitisation and e-governance to drive economic growth while safeguarding citizens’ data in compliance with the NDPC’s regulatory framework.

The announcement came during the Eko Revenue Plus summit, a two-day event spearheaded by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo.

The summit provided a platform for robust discussions between stakeholders, including top government officials, private sector representatives and regulators, on leveraging technology to optimise revenue collection.

The National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, emphasized the importance of aligning Lagos’ 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 NDPC are here; 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, who was represented by a senior executive, lauded Lagos State for its advancement 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, underscored the summit’s relevance, focusing on five vital sectors: property, the digital economy, the informal sector, energy and the circular economy. The sectors, he explained, are pillars of Lagos’ economic vibrancy and serve as avenues for value creation, innovation and strategic partnerships.