{OPINION}:  The capture of Lagos identity by an inactive sole proprietorship concern

By LASISI ROBERT

What appears on the surface as “digitization” is, in fact, the most far-reaching attempt yet to centralize, commodify, and ultimately dilute the indigeneship of Lagosians and the facts surrounding Qista Technologies are, frankly, alarming.

The identity of a people is not a technical accessory. It is not an app. It is not a software plugin. It is a living heritage rooted in history, community memory, traditions, and the recognized authorities that have safeguarded it for centuries. This is why the recent quiet decision by the Lagos State Government to outsource the indigeneship certification process to a little-known firm, Qista Technologies, demands scrutiny, outrage, and immediate reversal.

What appears on the surface as “digitization” is, in fact, the most far-reaching attempt yet to centralize, commodify, and ultimately dilute the indigeneship of Lagosians and the facts surrounding Qista Technologies are, frankly, alarming.

A basic due-diligence search reveals that Qista Technologies is not a registered limited liability company, nor does it possess any meaningful track record in software engineering, digital identity management, or public-sector technology deployment. Instead it is a sole proprietorship

Owned by Mr. Owolowo Musbau Olufemi and listed as inactive as of three weeks ago with product descriptions focused on memory cards, GPS devices, and hard drives and not software development, not digital identity and not automation platform and yet this inactive, single-owner trading outfit has somehow been entrusted with the power to generate the indigeneship certificates that determine:
• Access to education
• Eligibility for scholarships
• Public sector employment
• Political representation
• Community belonging
• And cultural identity itself

This is not merely irresponsible. It is an assault on logic, law, and culture of indigenous Lagosians and a direct violation of our tradition and Governmental Order.

Historically and constitutionally indigeneship certificates in Lagos have been issued by two authorities:

1. Local Government Authorities, who possess detailed historical knowledge of families, lineages, and communities

2. Traditional institutions, especially the Oba of Lagos, whose custodianship predates colonial administration

These institutions are not incidental; they are the lawful pillars of identity verification.
To replace them with a private vendor that is worse,inactive and sole proprietorship is to elevate convenience over culture, software over sovereignty, and opacity over legitimacy. Unless Qista Technologies is ONLY providing a digital window through which existing LGA and traditional records can be accessed, their involvement in certification is fundamentally illegitimate. A contractor cannot become a custodian of identity. A database cannot confer lineage.

A private citizen cannot grant what only communities have the authority to affirm

In recent weeks, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) reportedly began rejecting indigeneship certificates issued by local governments and insisting on the new, state-generated certificates tied to Qista’s system.

This development has triggered alarm among communities, students, and families across the state. For the first time in history Local governments are no longer the primary issuers of identity and Traditional institutions have been bypassed by an unregistered contractor who has been positioned as a gatekeeper of lineage. This is not progress.

It is an institutional hijack. The Risks Are Too Great to Ignore

1. Cultural Dilution

A system controlled by a private entity with no historical grounding makes it possible for anyone to obtain “Lagos indigene” status.

2. Data Insecurity

Sensitive identity data, family histories, ancestral records, and personal details are now exposed to a company with no visible security credentials or corporate structure.

3. Administrative Overreach

Centralizing indigeneship at the state level destroys local government authority and violates the spirit of federalism.

4. Fraud and Identity Manufacturing

An inactive sole proprietorship lacks the accountability mechanisms necessary to prevent manipulation, political exploitation, or commercial abuse.

5. Irreversible Erosion of Heritage

Once the meaning of indigene is diluted, the damage cannot be undone. A people will struggle for generations to reclaim their identity

We live in an era where technology is invoked as justification for every policy misstep. But digitization is not the same as dispossession.
If Lagos wants to digitize indigene records, that is a welcome step but it must be done correctly by registered, competent, verifiable firms under the authority and supervision of local governments and traditional institutions
and with clear legal frameworks, not secretive outsourcing arrangements

The Way Forward: Restore Legitimacy, Recover Identity

1. Immediate transparency from the Lagos State Government on the scope of Qista’s assignment

2. Immediate restriction of Qista’s role to digitization ONLY, if at all

3. Restoration of certification authority to LGAs and traditional custodians

4. Public audit of the contract and its procurement process

5. Enactment of safeguards to ensure no non-state or non-traditional body can ever certify indigeneship again

Lagos identity is not a commodity.
It is not a web portal.

And it must not be placed in the hands of an inactive sole proprietorship that lacks both competence and legitimacy. The people of Lagos have the right and the duty to defend their heritage.

This is not just an administrative matter. It is a cultural emergency.

Our conclusion

Our state is now a full blown captive state. The certificate of indigenous identity once the preserve of the local government has now been taken over by the state. UNILAG now rejects local government indigeneship certificate with a preference for the state own. Our slavery is complete. Now every Tom and Dick can claim Lagos identity thanks to the new slave masters.

UNILAG is wrong. The Lagos State classification is wrong and unconstitutional. It should be changed on that basis.

Comrade Lasisi Robert,
For and on behalf Media Office of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, Lagos State.