By Lucy Ogalue
Abuja Investment Company Ltd. (AICL) has inaugurated an automated gate access control system at the Garki International Market to curb revenue leakages, enhance security and modernise operations.
The Group Managing Director of AICL, Dr Maureen Tamuno, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Tamuno, during the commissioning of the project in Abuja, said that the initiative represented a shift toward efficiency, transparency and accountability in market administration.
She said that AICL remained committed to creating sustainable value, enhancing commercial assets and positioning Abuja as a competitive investment destination.
She said that the newly deployed system replaced manual cash collection with a secure technology-driven platform.
According to her, the platform is powered by automatic number plate recognition cameras, barrier gates, handheld Point-of-Sale (POS) devices and a centralised real-time monitoring dashboard.
Tamuno said that the solution was deployed in partnership with Global Software and Digital Solutions Limited (GSDS).
She said that it integrated vehicle entry automation, ticketing, digital payment processing and centralised reporting across all entry and exit points of the market.
She said that the platform digitally recorded every vehicle entry, duration of stay and payment, thereby eliminating revenue leakages while strengthening transparency and accountability.
“This project is for you. It is designed to protect your businesses, safeguard your customers and enhance the overall commercial experience.
“We are trying to ensure that we block leakages and make sure that things are done properly, and that is what this whole system is all about.
“It will also ensure that every vehicle entry, duration and payment is digitally recorded, eliminating leakages and improving accountability.
“This will enhance security through controlled access and monitoring, improve traffic management and reduce congestion,” she said.
Tamuno aligned the initiative with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the reform drive of the FCT Administration under Nyesom Wike.
She described it as part of a broader push to digitise public infrastructure and improve ease of doing business in the capital.
Earlier, AICL’s Chief Investment Officer, Mr Abiodun Akanbi, said that the project was the first of its kind within the FCT market system and reflected a renewed focus on technology-driven operations.
The Vice-President, Sales and Operations, GSDS, Mr Pushkar Nanda, said that the system leveraged innovative number plate recognition and QR code-based entry and exit processes to guarantee full accountability and improved user experience.
Representatives of the Market Traders Association welcomed the development, describing it as a milestone that would reinforce the market’s status as one of Abuja’s foremost international trading centres.
The automated gate system is expected to serve as a model for other markets across the FCT as authorities intensify efforts to modernise infrastructure, boost internally generated revenue and strengthen governance through digital transformation. (NAN)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
