By Kester Omu
The Lagos State Government has partnered Nigeria’s leading digital payment gateway, Interswitch to actualize the extensive adoption of electronic channels in the payment of taxes, levies and other government payments.
The Governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode noted that the choice of Interswitch was necessitated largely to the fact that the company has proven to be at the forefront of efficient and secure public sector payments and collections at both National and State levels.
“We are confident in the ability of Interswitch to provide strong support and the state-of-the-art payment infrastructure, comparable to such obtainable anywhere in the world as well as the capabilities required to facilitate seamless implementation of this policy in a state like Lagos,” he said in a statement.
Commenting on the announcement, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe expressed Interswitch’s commitment to providing omni-channel payment infrastructure which will facilitate seamless transaction processes in revenue collection to make it easy and convenient for the good people of Lagos who can now pay every day, any time and online.
“Over the last few years, we have invested extensively in building and continuously developing a variety of payment channels which facilitate real-time transaction through any means desirable by all parties within the payment process. Our vision at Interswitch is an Africa where payment becomes a seamless part of our everyday lives, and we are resolutely committed to working with Lagos State to embrace a fully digital future, in line with our resolve to continue to create digital transaction solutions that enable individuals and communities prosper across Africa,” he noted.
With this partnership, government payments will now be possible through multiple channels including physical payments in any branch of any bank, and using Interswitch solutions such as Interswitch Paydirect, Interswitch Payment Gateway, Quickteller Paypoint, and Mobile Apps/USSD codes of LASG MDAs, thereby encouraging real-time cashless payments directly to the State Treasury.