The Ministry of Defence has started a new era of digital efficiency in the conduct of national security with the launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) at Defense Headquarters, Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd) charged management and staff of the Ministry to embrace the new system with commitment and openness, stressing that while technology provides the tools, dedication of personnel remains the true driver of success.
“We are not just launching a software application. We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the way we conduct the business of national security,” Musa said.
General Musa linked the transition to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency are central pillars of the administration’s national development strategy.
He emphasised that the civil service, as the engine room of government, must be modernised to meet global standards.
The Defence Minister commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for setting 31 December 2025 as the deadline for all extra ministerial departments and agencies to go paperless.
He acknowledged that the milestone achieved by the Ministry would not have been possible without the strategic partnership of Galaxy Backbone and the sustained efforts of the Ministry’s ICT team.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson Jack mni, described the ECMS launch as a landmark initiative that strengthens efficiency, accountability and secure information management across the public service.
She noted that for a ministry whose mandate lies at the heart of national sovereignty and security, effective record management is not optional but essential.
According to her, the event represents 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.
Mrs Walson Jack explained that the deployment of ECMS on the 1Government Cloud marks a fundamental change in how government business is conducted, enabling secure digital records, automated workflows, electronic approvals and interoperability.
She stressed that decision making will now be driven by timely access to information rather than delayed by the physical movement of files.
She added that the milestone places the Ministry of Defence on track to meet the Federal Government’s full digitalisation directive by 31 December 2025 and directly advances the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 to 2025, which prioritises digital processes across MDAs.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the ECMS launch as a critical step towards greater efficiency, transparency and collaboration within government.
He said the 1Government Cloud ECMS is a sovereign solution designed to centralise content, enhance document security and empower staff to perform their duties effectively.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, described the ECMS Go Live as a pivotal transition from paper based operations to a fully digital environment.
He noted that efficiency in defence administration directly impacts national security and that the new system would ensure faster approvals, secure handling of sensitive data and improved operational effectiveness.
He acknowledged the role of Galaxy Backbone in strengthening the Ministry’s digital infrastructure and outlined the benefits of the initiative to include efficiency, cost effectiveness, transparency and accountability, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The ECMS launch positions the Ministry of Defence as a key driver of Nigeria’s shift towards paperless governance, reinforcing digital transformation as a core component of modern national security administration.