The Minister of Defence, Christophe Musa (rtd) has declared that the era of physical file movement in the Ministry is coming to an end with the official launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) Go-Live Project at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
The Minister charged management and staff of the Ministry to embrace digital efficiency, stressing that while technology provides the tools, staff dedication remains the driving force for success.
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He said the ECMS launch marks not just the deployment of a software application, but a fundamental shift in how the Ministry conducts the business of national security.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, identifies digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency as key pillars of national development, noting that the civil service, as the engine room of governance, must be modernised to meet global standards.
The Minister commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, for setting December 31, 2025, as the deadline for all ministries, departments, and agencies to go paperless.
He also acknowledged the strategic partnership of Galaxy Backbone and praised the Ministry’s ICT team for their commitment to ensuring the successful deployment of the system.
In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation described the launch of the ECMS as a milestone initiative that will stand the test of time.
She said any initiative that strengthens efficiency, accountability, and secure information management within the civil service is welcome, particularly for a ministry whose mandate lies at the core of national sovereignty and security.
She noted that the event represents a deliberate and strategic statement of intent by the Ministry of Defence in its responsibility for defence policy formulation, strategic coordination, military administration, and oversight of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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She commended the Ministry’s leadership for its foresight and commitment to digital service delivery in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mrs Walson-Jack explained that the deployment of the ECMS on the 1Government Cloud marks a fundamental shift in the conduct of government business, enabling secured digital records, automated workflows, electronic approvals, and interoperability.
She added that decision-making would now be driven by timely access to information rather than delayed by the physical movement of files.
She said the milestone places the Ministry on track 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 MDAs.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the launch as a critical step towards greater efficiency, transparency, and collaboration.
He said the 1Government Cloud ECMS is a sovereign solution designed to centralise content, enhance document security, and empower staff to perform their duties more effectively.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, said the launch represents a pivotal shift from paper-based operations to a fully digital, paperless environment.
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He noted that efficiency in defence operations directly impacts national security, adding that the adoption of the ECMS would ensure timely file movement, faster approvals, and secure handling of sensitive data.
Pheelangwa acknowledged the role of Galaxy Backbone in providing the resilient digital infrastructure required for the transition and outlined the benefits of the system to include improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.