The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) under the Sovereign Digitalisation Programme 1Government Cloud, has commenced the full-scale rollout of paperless governance across ministries, departments and agencies.

Speaking at the rollout, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, described the initiative as a “strategic shift” in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

“With 1Gov, Nigeria is entering a new era of governance, faster decision-making, more secure documentation, and ultimately, better services for citizens. This is about building a government that is smart, responsive, and globally competitive,” Adeyanju said.

On his part, the Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud, Mr Wumi Oghoetuoma, emphasised that the project is designed to drive efficiency and transparency in governance.

“The paperless governance initiative will eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks by streamlining approvals and inter-agency communication.

“It will significantly cut costs associated with printing, storage, and distribution of physical files, while enhancing transparency and accountability in public service delivery,” Oghoetuoma said.

He further noted that the programme enhances the security of sensitive government documents through encrypted digital storage and accelerates decision-making across MDAs.

“With MDAs uniting under a single vision to improve service delivery, one of the key performance indicators of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is laying the foundation for a seamless digital government ecosystem,” he added.

According to him, the mandate of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) to achieve a fully paperless civil service by December 2025 is clear and achievable. He commended the Office of the HCSF for adopting a phased approach that prioritises staff training and optimised IT infrastructure as prerequisites for large-scale adoption.

This milestone underscores Nigeria’s commitment to modernising public service delivery, strengthening data sovereignty, and aligning with global best practices in digital governance.

A senior civil servant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who requested anonymity, highlighted the platform’s importance for Nigeria’s diplomacy.

He noted that adopting a sovereign platform will “strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic communication systems and enhance the country’s ability to respond swiftly to international engagements.”

Pioneering this landmark initiative are key federal government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy; the Ministry of Solid Minerals; the Ministry of Steel Development; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Federal Ministry of Justice; the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria; and the Federal Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, among others soon to follow.

GBB 1Gov: FG MDAs begin Nigeria’s Sovereign Paperless Drive