Lagos State on Monday received the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), led by its Chairman, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, on the Board’s first official courtesy visit since its inauguration. The visit underscored Lagos’ strategic importance in Nigeria’s communications, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
Welcoming the delegation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as a natural starting point for national conversations on communication and digital advancement. He noted that the state remains the heartbeat of Nigeria’s innovation economy, where ideas are tested at scale and where trends that shape the nation often take root.
“Why Lagos first? The better question is, why not Lagos?” the Governor said. “When it comes to communication, innovation, and scale, Lagos sits at the centre of it all. What happens here frequently sets the pace for the rest of the country.”
The Governor emphasized that the visit went beyond protocol, describing it as a timely engagement focused on strengthening collaboration between regulators and subnational governments. According to him, effective communication systems are no longer optional but foundational to modern governance, economic growth, and social inclusion.
He explained that reliable telecommunications infrastructure directly affects how governments deliver services, how businesses expand and compete, and how citizens access opportunities in education, healthcare, finance, and employment. In a city as dynamic and densely populated as Lagos, the role of strong regulatory frameworks and forward-looking policies becomes even more critical.
Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state government’s commitment to working closely with the NCC to create an enabling environment for innovation, investment, and digital transformation. He stressed the importance of deliberate planning, data-driven decision-making, and sustained partnerships that align national regulatory objectives with the practical realities of states and communities.
The NCC delegation, led by Chief Olorunnimbe, commended Lagos State for its leadership in embracing technology and fostering an innovation-friendly climate. The Board noted that engaging Lagos at this early stage was intentional, given the state’s outsized influence on Nigeria’s communications landscape and its role as a hub for startups, telecom operators, and creative industries.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration in areas that will strengthen connectivity, improve service delivery, and ensure that governance remains focused on initiatives that truly move lives forward. For Lagos, the engagement reaffirmed its position not just as Nigeria’s commercial capital, but as a key driver of the country’s digital future.
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