By Harriet Tornguvan
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has declared that the era of physical file movement in the Ministry of Defence is coming to an end, marking the beginning of a new phase of digital efficiency and innovation.
The minister made this known at the official launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) Go-Live Project at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Enderline Chukwu, the minister said while technology provides the tools, staff dedication remains the key driver of success. He urged management and staff to embrace the new digital work culture with an open and progressive mindset.
According to him, the ECMS Go-Live is not merely the deployment of a software application, but a fundamental shift in how the Ministry conducts the business of national security, administration and governance.
The minister noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda identifies digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency as critical pillars for national growth. He stressed that the civil service, as the engine room of government, must be modernised to meet global standards.
He commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, for her visionary leadership in setting December 31, 2025, as the deadline for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to go paperless. He also acknowledged the strategic role of Galaxy Backbone in supporting the Ministry’s digital transition.
The minister praised Galaxy Backbone for its technical expertise and the Ministry’s ICT team for their tireless efforts in ensuring the successful deployment of the system, describing the platform as “the digital veins through which the Ministry’s administrative lifeblood will now flow.”
In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation described the launch of the ECMS as a landmark initiative that will stand the test of time, noting that any effort that strengthens efficiency, accountability and secure information management within the civil service is highly commendable.
She emphasised that for a ministry with the core mandate of national sovereignty and security, effective record and information management is indispensable. According to her, the ECMS Go-Live represents a deliberate and strategic statement of intent by the Ministry of Defence in policy formulation, strategic coordination, military administration and oversight of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Walson-Jack expressed satisfaction with the Ministry’s commitment to digital content service delivery in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions a public service that is efficient, accountable, responsive and digitally enabled.
She explained that the deployment of the ECMS on the 1Government Cloud marks a fundamental shift in how government business is conducted, enabling secure digital records, automated workflows, electronic approvals and system interoperability.
She added that decision-making would now be driven by timely access to information rather than delayed by the physical movement of files. The development, she said, places the Ministry on track to meet the Federal Government’s directive for full digitalisation by December 31, 2025, while advancing Pillar Five of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025), which prioritises digitalisation across MDAs.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the ECMS launch represents a critical milestone in the journey towards greater efficiency, transparency and collaboration within government operations.
He explained that the 1Government Cloud ECMS is a sovereign digital solution designed to centralise content, enhance document security and equip staff with tools to perform their duties more effectively. He added that the initiative aligns with Galaxy Backbone’s broader vision of transforming government operations through secure, reliable and intelligent digital platforms nationwide.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, described the launch as a pivotal transformation from paper-based operations to a fully digital and paperless environment.
He noted that the transition is strategic, as efficiency in defence operations directly impacts national security. According to him, the adoption of the ECMS will ensure timely file movement, faster approvals and the handling of sensitive information with speed, accuracy and maximum security.
Pheelangwa acknowledged that the partnership with Galaxy Backbone has been instrumental in building a resilient digital infrastructure capable of supporting the demands of a paperless ministry. He outlined the benefits of the ECMS to include improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, transparency and accountability, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
