The Honourable Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has declared that the era of physical file movement in the Ministry of Defence is gradually giving way to a new culture of digital efficiency, transparency and speed in service delivery.

The Minister made this assertion on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, during the official launch and “Go-Live” of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.

Addressing the management and staff of the Ministry, Musa charged them to fully embrace the new digital way of working, stressing that while technology provides the tools, staff dedication remains the true driver of success. He explained that the event was not merely the launch of a software application, but the commencement of a fundamental shift in how the Ministry conducts the business of national security.

According to the Minister, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, identifies digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency as critical pillars for national development. He emphasised that the civil service, as the engine room of government, must be modernised to meet global standards and effectively support the implementation of this agenda.

Musa commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, mni, for her visionary leadership in setting December 31, 2025, as the deadline for all extra-ministerial departments and agencies to transition to paperless operations. He acknowledged that this milestone would not have been possible without the strategic partnership of Galaxy Backbone, praising its management for their technical expertise. He also lauded the Ministry’s ICT team for working tirelessly to ensure the success of the ECMS “Go-Live” project.

“You have provided the digital veins through which our administrative lifeblood will now flow,” the Minister said.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation described the launch of the ECMS as an initiative that would stand the test of time. She noted that any effort aimed at strengthening efficiency, accountability and secure information management within the civil service is worthy of commendation.

Mrs Walson-Jack stressed that for a ministry such as Defence, whose mandate lies at the core of national sovereignty and security, effective record management is indispensable. She said the event represented a deliberate and strategic statement of intent by a ministry responsible for defence policy formulation, strategic coordination, military administration and oversight of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Commending the leadership of the Ministry for its foresight and resolve, she expressed particular encouragement at its commitment to digital content service delivery, noting that this aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which envisions a public service that is efficient, accountable, responsive and digitally enabled.

The Head of Service explained that the deployment of the ECMS on the 1Government Cloud marks a fundamental shift in the conduct of government business. Through the system, the Ministry will benefit from secure digital records, automated workflows, electronic approvals and enhanced interoperability. She added that decision-making would now be driven by timely access to information, rather than being delayed by the physical movement of files.

She further noted that the milestone positions the Ministry of Defence to meet the Federal Government’s directive for full digitalisation of work processes by December 31, 2025, while also advancing Pillar Five of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which prioritises digitalisation across ministries, departments and agencies.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the ECMS launch as a critical step in the journey towards greater efficiency, transparency and collaboration within the Ministry. He stated that the 1Government Cloud ECMS is a sovereign digital solution designed to centralise content, enhance document security and empower staff with the tools required to perform their duties effectively.

Adeyanju added that the initiative aligns with Galaxy Backbone’s broader vision of transforming government operations by connecting MDAs nationwide through secure, reliable and intelligent digital platforms. According to him, the objective is to enable every user to work efficiently, securely and productively, thereby improving service delivery to Nigerians.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, described the ECMS launch as a pivotal moment in the Ministry’s transition from paper-based operations to a fully digital, paperless environment. He said the shift represents a strategic move, noting that efficiency in defence administration directly impacts national security.

Pheelangwa explained that by adopting the ECMS, the Ministry is ensuring faster movement of files, timely processing of approvals and improved handling of sensitive data with speed, accuracy and maximum security. He acknowledged that the collaboration with Galaxy Backbone has been instrumental in building an infrastructure resilient enough to support the demands of a paperless ministry.

He concluded by outlining the key 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, GCFR.