By Philip Yatai

The Havel Corporate Concept, an affiliate of ioSafe Nigeria, says it is complementing the efforts of Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), toward transforming Abuja to a smart city.

Dr Ahmed Badanga, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the group and Convener of Abuja Smart City Project, said this after a roadwalk in Abuja on Monday.

The walk was to sensitise residents of Abuja about the Nigeria Expo Conference and unveiling of the Strategic Road Map for the Abuja Smart City Project.

The conference, scheduled for July 23, was to create awareness on data and how it could be used to transform Abuja to a smart city, including the six area councils.

Badanga said Wike’s investment in infrastructure development and other sectors are transforming the city into a befitting capital city.

He, however, added that beyond infrastructure, there was also the need for technology to drive the city and make access to critical services automated and smart.

He said that the Abuja Smart City Project, which would be implemented in collaboration with critical stakeholders, would make 40 services, including governance, transport, tourism, health, business and homes smarter.

The CEO said Abuja has the needed infrastructure that could be tapped to make it smart like any other country.

He explained that “the essence of the conference is to bring stakeholders together to unveil the strategic roadmap on the smart city project.

“The strategic roadmap will contain what we are trying to do to make Abuja smart like any other smart city in the world.

“We are also going to be unveiling the logo of the smart city project.”

He said the project would be delivered in phases from 2024 to 2040, adding that the vision was to transform Abuja into a technology-driven city like Dubai and Hong Kong by 2040.

He identified some of the partners in the implementation of the project as Galaxy Backbone, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Others, he said, are the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

In his remarks, Mr Robb Moore, the Founder of ioSafe Nigeria, who was in Abuja for the first time, lauded the smart city project.

Moore said he came all the way from the United States to share his experience from the Silicon Valley to drive the city for the comfort of FCT residents.

Silicon Valley is an area in Northern California that is home to a large number of innovative technology companies.

He said “we are going to be talking a lot about smart cities and smart data at the conference and how to make Abuja and Nigeria grow.

“I will talk about what I have learned in Silicon Valley – growing companies, starting companies, selling companies and how Nigeria can use technology to grow stronger.”

Mr Sunday Ichedi, the Director, Communication and Public Relations Department, NBS, said data is critical to the success of the project.

Ichedi assured the convener of NBS commitment to provide critical data needed for the project.

Mr Johnson Oke, the Head of Information and Communication Technology, FCDA, said that the authority would play a critical role in the implementation of the project.

Oke said that the project would ensure that infrastructure development in the city and municipal services were automated, noting that developed countries were driving services and infrastructure through the smart city initiative. (NAN)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu