Lagos, one of Africa’s busiest tech hubs in Africa, is asking all tech hubs and co-working spaces in the city to pay an annual safety tax of ₦200,000 ($463) to the government as part of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSC)’s responsibility to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state.
Reports say that the Safety Audit tax law was made 11 years ago, but it is only now being enforced.
Starting in September 2022, these facilities began receiving notices to expect a visit from Aquicorn Projects Limited, a safety assessment company, to identify potential hazards and recommend measures to mitigate them. This will continue till the end of November.
As confirmed in a statement dated September 14, 2022, this safety audit would attract an annual ₦50,000 ($115.92) documentation fee and ₦100,000($231.84) certification fee payable to the LSC’s account.
Lagos State Tech hub bill
The Lagos State Commission (LSC) has said that the money will be applied to ensure public safety at the various tech hubs and co-working spaces across the city, in line with its legal mandate.
The Lagos State Safety Commission was established to “oversee matters relating to the safety of residents’ life and properties”. The commission has 16 departments, one of which is responsible for the safety audits that are about to sweep through the city’s tech hubs and co-working spaces.
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The LSC was instituted in 2011 to oversee matters relating to the safety of residents’ life and properties. Safety Audit is only one of the 16 departments under the Commission’s confines. The LSC also ensures safety in construction sites, manufacturing companies, and corporate services facilities. This begs the question of what is done to prevent the incessant building collapse incidents experienced in the state.
All LSC’s responsibilities are grounded within the LSC Law 2011, which gives the body the power to carry out any act and enforce laws that will improve residents’ conditions.
A quick search for Aquicorn Projects Limited, the tech-accredited safety consultant in charge of this phase of the safety audit shows that it was founded in 2018, and has since offered auditing, certification, and safety training services, among others.
In 2017, a similar notice was handed to private and public schools in the state. The safety audit team was, however, expected to visit the educational facilities without notice. Meanwhile, in 2021, the spotlight was on hotels and gas distribution outfits.
Tech Hubs That Offers Co-working Spaces In Lagos
Tech hubs provide space where high-tech business growth can be accelerated and in turn, bring prosperity to communities.
According to report, Africa has over 643 hubs across the continent. These hubs have spearheaded the launching of hundreds of start-ups and have a lot of potential in terms of facilitating growth across the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Tech hubs offer a range of services, from incubators and accelerators to co-working sites.
Here is a list of some of the best tech hubs in Lagos offering a range of services from incubators and accelerators to co-working sites in 2022.
Co-creation hub
CcHUB is Nigeria’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space designed to be a multi-functional, multi-purpose space where work to catalyze creative social tech ventures takes place. The HUB is a place for technologists, social entrepreneurs, government, tech companies, impact investors, and hackers in and around Lagos to co-create new solutions to the many social problems in Nigeria.
360 Creative Hub
360 Creative Hub is a co-working start-up studio that provides support via collaboration and innovation for fashion designers + creative entrepreneurs. The 360 Creative Hub is becoming known for championing new creative talent and breaking down the barriers of entry for fashion graduates and new emerging designers, becoming the place for aspiring and talented designers to develop their creations and the destination of choice for a fashion-forward audience.
Zonetech Park
Zone Tech Park is a start-up tech firm offering custom software development and tech talent outsourcing. The firm provides professional services in strategy, enterprise software development, mobile app development, UX/UI design, QA & testing, IT consulting, and tech talent recruitment to help businesses build scalable products and high-performing teams.
Leadspace
Leadspace is creating “the Future of Work” by providing a conducive environment to “work, collaborate, stay productive, network, and have fun.” Its coworking spaces are for entrepreneurs/founders of small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs, middle-level corporate executives, independent freelancers, and creative artists.
Passion Incubator
Passion Incubator (PI) is an early-stage technology incubator that works with early-stage startups to develop their business ideas into successful companies.
NG-HUB from Facebook
NG-HUB provides entrepreneurs, creatives, and the tech community with workspaces, meeting rooms, an events space, a chill-out and games room, a cafe, and even a virtual reality lab.
Vatebra Tech Hub
Vatebra Tech Hub is an innovative community for startups, visionaries, creative minds, and moguls in the tech space. The tech hub is focused on turning ideas into business solutions and eventually to market.
Wennovation Hub
Wennovation Hub brings productive people together through shared workspaces, special events, social spaces, and their digital member network. The hub is focused on developing viable solutions to local challenges by utilizing innovation from their inventive workspaces and inspiring creativity, advancing the effectiveness and encouraging coordinated efforts among hub members. Founded in 2010.
Cranium One
Cranium One operates a shared workspace that “fosters collaboration, openness, innovation, creativity, community, accessibility, and sustainability. for entrepreneurs and small businesses.”
Hub 30
Hub30 is “a community of bold minds who have decided to work under the same roof.” The hub created an environment that serves not only professional needs, but also organically forms and nurtures a vibrant community.