FG intensifies push for e-government adoption

The Federal Government is stepping up efforts to implement e-government systems to improve productivity and provide more accessible services to citizens.

At the recent e-Government Summit in Lagos, officials from the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, and industry experts highlighted the need for enhanced connectivity to support governance improvements.

The renewed push follows the unveiling of the 1Government Cloud Software by Galaxy Backbone in July.

The cloud-based solution, which integrates infrastructure and software as a service, aims to provide secure data storage and software to Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The government’s move aligns with the 2020 launch of the Nigeria e-Government Master Plan, which is designed to support the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, a strategy aimed at boosting economic performance.

The Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy at NITDA, Dimie Warowei, told The PUNCH that e-government has been successful in countries like Denmark, where the initiative is driven by all levels of government.

“In Denmark, from the central government to the local government, there is collaboration. Everyone is aligned, and they even fund various aspects of the project. Each level of government is aware of its responsibilities and what needs to be done at any given time,” Warowei explained.

He identified regulatory challenges as a major obstacle to the wider adoption of e-government in Nigeria, particularly the need for clear standards and guidelines.

“Much of what is required to implement this project will come from the private sector. The government’s role is to draft appropriate regulations that enable private sector participation,” he said.

Warowei also suggested the creation of a dedicated agency to oversee the smooth implementation of the e-government initiative.

The Executive Chairman of GG Serve and convener of the Nigerian Government Summit, Engineer Lanre Ajayi, highlighted a persistent gap between the government and citizens in terms of e-government services.

Lanre, who is also the Executive Chairman of DigiServe Network Services Limited, noted that several government departments, especially at the local and state levels, are still failing to implement online services effectively.

“The deployment at these levels is deplorable, and much work remains to motivate them to move services online and integrate technology into their processes,” he said during a recent summit.

He emphasised that the discussion surrounding e-government transformation is ongoing.

“Transformation is a continuous process,” Ajayi added, stating that with the emergence of new technologies, the data conversation will remain vital as efforts to modernize government services continue.

The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adepoju said increased collaboration across sectors was critical towards achieving the e-government agenda.

Adepoju outlined efforts to raise awareness about the organization’s infrastructure, noting that many are unaware of the capabilities already in place.

“It’s important to improve our broadband and ensure that our infrastructure remains relevant,” he said, adding that capacity utilisation remains below its potential despite significant government investment.

In August, Galaxy Backbone achieved Uptime Institute’s Tier IV certification for its second data centre, making it the first facility in the country to secure both Tier IV design and facility certifications.