Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commissioned the Lagos Land Archive, described as the largest land information storage facility in West Africa, as the State strengthens its electronic Geographic Information System (e-GIS) infrastructure.
The Governor commissioned the advanced land records storage facility on Tuesday during a guided inspection and walkthrough of Lagos State’s geospatial infrastructure to mark the maiden GIS Day 2026.
The Lagos Land Archive was developed to securely store the State’s hardcopy land documents while complementing existing electronic records and digital land management systems. Construction of the facility began last year.
According to the Lagos State Government, the completion of the project gives the State what it describes as the largest land information storage facility in West Africa, combining physical and electronic data storage systems.
Sanwo-Olu Inspects Lagos e-GIS Infrastructure
During the inspection, Sanwo-Olu toured the Lagos Land Archive alongside members of the State Executive Council and stakeholders involved in land administration and management.
The Governor also inspected various departments within the State’s e-GIS Office, where officials demonstrated newly developed systems and technologies designed to transform spatial information into practical tools for land administration, urban planning, infrastructure development, monitoring and government decision-making.
Among the facilities inspected were the Lagos State Physical Planning and Automation Department, Survey Information Centre, GIS Centre and Office of the Surveyor-General of Lagos State.
The inspection highlighted the growing role of geospatial technology in managing Lagos, one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centres.
Speaking during the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu said effective management of Lagos requires accurate information about the State’s physical environment and how different elements are connected.
“Lagos is a city of extraordinary scale, complexity and one that undergoes constant change. To understand and manage this territory, plan its infrastructure and respond effectively to the needs of its people, we must be able to understand the State not only through what we see, but through the information that tells us where things are, how they connect and how they change. This is the value of geospatial information.”
The Governor’s remarks underscore the importance of geographic information systems in Lagos, particularly as the State continues to experience rapid population growth, urban expansion and increasing demand for infrastructure.
Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, said GIS Day offered an opportunity for Lagos State to showcase the progress it has made in developing its geospatial capabilities.
Babatunde said the event also provided an avenue to recognise the institutions and professionals responsible for driving innovation in the State’s geospatial sector.
He explained that Lagos began developing its geospatial capabilities in 2016 and has since implemented various stages of processes aimed at building the State’s current e-GIS infrastructure.
According to him, the technology has improved the way spatial information is collected, organised and utilised across government.
Lagos Land Archive to Support Urban Planning
The commissioning of the Lagos Land Archive represents another step in the State’s efforts to modernise land administration and strengthen access to reliable land information.
By combining hardcopy document preservation with electronic data management, the facility is expected to support more efficient land records management while helping government agencies access information required for planning and development.
The wider Lagos e-GIS system is also positioned to support urban planning, surveying, infrastructure monitoring, land administration and evidence-based government decisions.
As Lagos continues to expand, the integration of geospatial technology into public administration is expected to play an increasingly important role in how the State plans its cities, manages land and delivers infrastructure.
Be the first to comment