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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stated that his administration would boost the state’s revenue through technology.
The governor said this at the just-concluded Eko Revenue Plus Summit in Lagos.
The two-day summit brought together policymakers and private sector stakeholders to explore new revenue streams and innovative approaches to revenue generation.
Anchored by Modo Ante in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, the summit was organised as a platform for robust discussions on the role of technology and innovation in addressing fiscal challenges and enhancing public service delivery.
Modo Ante, a consultancy firm specialising in governance, public sector, and political consulting, reiterated its dedication to leveraging technology and innovative strategies to optimise revenue generation for governments and private sector partners.
In his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu advocated for broader revenue strategies beyond taxation, including optimising state-owned assets and creating new economic opportunities that the Eko Revenue Plus Summit would identify.
He urged the private sector to partner with the State under the Public-Private Partnerships in creating innovative revenue solutions, particularly in real estate, waste management, and technology and how to hold government accountable for revenue.
According to the governor, these three identified areas have enormous revenue potential that is not yet fully tapped.
He underscored the importance of technology as a critical tool for modern governance and revenue optimisation.
He emphasised the state’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve by embracing innovative solutions to manage its growing urban population and expanding economy.
“The Lagos State Government has consistently demonstrated leadership in adopting cutting-edge technology to drive development and improve revenue collection,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He cited the ongoing deployment of digital tools, such as the Lagos State Unified Revenue Portal, which he said had simplified tax collection processes and improved transparency.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Abdul-Kabir Ogungbo, presented a detailed roadmap for sustainable revenue growth in Lagos State.
He highlighted the state’s achievements in widening the tax net and implementing data-driven policies to improve compliance.
“Our success stems from our ability to innovate and deploy intelligent systems that simplify revenue collection while ensuring accountability,” Ogungbo noted.
He cited the state’s partnership with private sector technology firms in developing analytics tools that identify untapped revenue sources.
Ogungbo called on other states to emulate Lagos by prioritising investments in technology and capacity building.
“Revenue generation in the 21st century requires a shift from traditional methods to a more data-centric approach. The Lagos example is a template that can be replicated across the country,” he asserted.
The Chief Executive Officer of Modo Ante, Bamijoko Okupe, highlighted the consultancy firm’s mission to transform governance and public sector performance through innovation and growth strategies.
Okupe thanked the Lagos State Government for partnering with Modo Ante for the summit and commended Sanwo-Olu for prioritising technology-driven governance.
“The Eko Revenue Plus Summit has proven that when government and private sector stakeholders collaborate, the possibilities for revenue generation and sustainable development are limitless,” he said.
Okupe stressed that the company would keep advising governments on initiatives incentivising private sector investment while creating sustainable revenue streams.
He also emphasised the critical role of data analytics and economic modelling in solving complex governance challenges.
