This comes under the “Nigeria First” policy, which seeks to strengthen local capacity and ensure that government data remains within the country.

In a circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), MDAs were reminded to channel their technology needs through GBB, ranging from IP-network services to data centre hosting and digital infrastructure solutions. 

The decision is tied to the government’s heavy investment in the National Information Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB), which remains the core of Nigeria’s e-government platform.

GBB’s mandate goes beyond connectivity. It has now been designated as the government’s official data exchange platform and the interoperability layer for Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure. This places the agency at the centre of efforts to coordinate and integrate federal digital services while maintaining the country’s data sovereignty goals.

Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, managing director and chief executive of GBB, said the organisation had restructured its operations to better serve public institutions. “We have repositioned our organisation in such a way that the MDAs experience the quality, reliability, and innovation of our services and they can see us as a partner in their digital transformation journey,” he stated.

Adeyanju stressed the importance of collaboration with MDAs, adding: “Our pledge is to listen, collaborate, and provide tailored digital infrastructure solutions that meet the unique needs of each agency, while ensuring Nigeria’s data remains safe within our borders.”

The government is also encouraging agencies still hosting data abroad to migrate to GBB’s platforms. Officials believe this will not only improve service delivery but also enhance cybersecurity and align with global best practices.

Backed by multiple ISO certifications, GBB insists its operations are rooted in security, service excellence and innovation.

With the renewed directive, it is expected that the agency’s work with MDAs will speed up Nigeria’s digital transformation drive and directly contribute to the country’s economic growth.

The event, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), brought together stakeholders across government, enterprise, and tech ecosystems.

In his welcome address, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, president and chairman of Council, LCCI, commended stakeholders for their resilience amid Nigeria’s economic challenges. He described the 2025 theme, “Leveraging Technology for Innovation and Development in Africa,” as timely and essential for fostering sustainable economic growth across the continent.

Galaxy Backbone Takes Centre Stage at ICTEL Expo 2025

A major highlight of the event was the strong presence of Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s leading provider of digital infrastructure and shared services.

The GBB delegation was led by Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO, who delivered the keynote address, reinforcing the critical role of digital infrastructure in enabling innovation, digital governance, and national development.

“Galaxy Backbone is not just a service provider; we are a nation builder,” said Professor Adeyanju.

He emphasized GBB’s strategic role in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and spotlighted its globally certified Tier III and Tier IV Data Centres, Africa’s largest publicly owned facility of its kind.

These certifications, from the prestigious Uptime Institute, confirm GBB’s infrastructure meets global standards for resilience, sustainability, and service reliability.

Powering Nigeria’s Digital Economy Through Infrastructure

Professor Adeyanju also detailed GBB’s 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC) and Security Operations Centre (SOC), which deliver comprehensive cybersecurity services including:

• Threat intelligence

• Endpoint protection

• Brand integrity monitoring

These capabilities, he noted, are enabling secure digital operations for both government institutions and private-sector players across the country.

On the transformative National Information Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) project, Professor Adeyanju described it as “one of the most ambitious digital connectivity investments in Nigeria’s history.”

“To date, we have deployed over 5,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable across 28 states, connecting state capitals, federal institutions, and MDAs. But we’re not just laying cables, we’re laying the foundation for digital governance and a truly connected economy,” he stated.

GBB Exhibition Highlights: Innovation Meets Impact

At the Galaxy Backbone exhibition stand, visitors explored GBB’s full suite of services tailored to enterprise innovation, efficient public service delivery, and nationwide digital transformation. The company demonstrated how its platforms are enabling:

• Seamless e-Government applications

• Enterprise-grade connectivity solutions

• Secure and scalable cloud infrastructure

GBB’s participation at ICTEL Expo 2025 underscores its enduring commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy, advancing public-private sector collaboration, and ensuring technology inclusion across all regions of the country.