By Bavoriat Clara
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has declared the beginning of a new era of digital efficiency in the Ministry of Defence with the launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), signalling the gradual end of physical file handling.
Musa made this known on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, during the official Go-Live ceremony of the ECMS at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja. He charged management and staff to fully embrace the digital transition, stressing that while technology provides the tools, staff dedication remains the driving force behind effective service delivery.
In a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, for the Director of Information and Public Relations, Enderline Chukwu, the Minister said the launch was more than the deployment of a software solution, describing it as a fundamental shift in the way the Ministry conducts the business of national security.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda identifies digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency as key pillars of national development, adding that the civil service, as the engine room of governance, must be modernised to meet global standards.
Musa commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, for her visionary leadership, particularly the directive mandating all extra-ministerial departments and agencies to go paperless by December 31, 2025. He also acknowledged the strategic partnership with Galaxy Backbone, praising its technical expertise, alongside the Ministry’s ICT team, for ensuring the successful deployment of the ECMS.
In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation described the ECMS launch as a landmark initiative that would strengthen efficiency, accountability and secure information management within the civil service. She noted that for a ministry as critical as Defence, whose mandate touches on national sovereignty and security, effective record management is indispensable.
Walson-Jack said the deployment of the ECMS on the 1Government Cloud represents a fundamental shift in how government business is conducted, offering secured 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 delayed by the physical movement of files.
She further stated that the milestone positions the Ministry of Defence to meet the Federal Government’s directive on 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 launch as a critical step towards greater efficiency, transparency and collaboration within the Ministry. He explained that the 1Government Cloud ECMS is a sovereign solution designed to centralise content, enhance document security and empower staff to perform their duties more effectively.
Adeyanju noted that the initiative aligns with Galaxy Backbone’s broader vision of transforming government operations through secure, reliable and intelligent digital platforms, ultimately improving service delivery to Nigerians.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, said the launch marked a pivotal transition from a paper-based system to a fully digital, paperless environment. He described the shift as strategic, noting that efficiency in defence administration has a direct impact on national security.
Pheelangwa acknowledged the support of Galaxy Backbone in building a resilient digital infrastructure capable of supporting the demands of a paperless ministry and outlined the benefits of the ECMS to include improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, transparency and accountability, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
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