Lagos may require N20bn for new computer village

The much anticipated relocation of the Ikeja Computer Village to Katangowa Agbado Oke-Odo CDA in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) may cost the Lagos State government an estimated N20 billion, according to TechnologyTimes.

This figure is the estimated cost of building a modern and technologically advanced Information Communications Technology (ICT) park expected to accommodate businesses in the nation’s largest technology market cluster.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says the state records an average of N1.5 billion monthly from internally generated revenue (IGR), admitting that the government must widen its scope of tax generation to sustain the pace of development in the state.

This comes to light even as the State Internal Revenue Service recovered over N654 million from 23 corporate tax defaulters of the 1,536 charged to court in the state, last year.

Oshiomhole, who gave the hint in Benin City on Monday during the official commissioning of the new edifice housing the offices of the State Internal Revenue Service, said the government.

The state government had conceived the idea of relocating Ikeja Computer Village few years ago in a bid to create a conducive environment for business at the market cluster which accommodates several businesses trading in computers, phone and allied peripheral and services.

It was gathered that the phased implementation of the project may cost the state government in excess of N20 billion for the provision of the new site for business.

According to the proposed project document, the partner company to the state government on the project plans a three-phase construction model ICT Park to be sited at Katangowa Agbado Oke-Odo CDA in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos. When completed, the proposed project may see the relocation of Ikeja Computer Village being pushed under a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement by the state government. The future ICT park is envisioned to be located on 15 hectares of land in Agbado Oke-Odo CDA in Alimosho LGA but no definite date has been set for its completion, people conversant with the situation have said.

The Lagos State government has in a previous announcement said that the project is being pursued under its ambitious mega city plan.

“In its continuous quest to redevelop Lagos mega city that is conducive to business, tourism and living, the Lagos State government embarked on the relocation of a number of commercial activities within the city that have, over time, become stressful to the smooth functioning of the state”, according to a recent announcement by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Under the government plan, business offering computer and allied services located in Ikeja are being relocated to Katangowa near Abule Egba to “necessitate the movement of the existing Katangowa Market to Amikanle village.”