This milestone marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, with the goal of improving Government-to-Citizen (G2C) interactions and enabling easier access to government services.

The Government Service Portal is a unified digital platform designed to enhance the delivery of public services by providing a seamless, secure, and accessible portal where citizens can interact with multiple government agencies.

Through this portal, citizens can access critical services such as NIN Registration, Immigration Services, healthcare services, and more—with little or no need to visit to physical offices.

Galaxy Backbone, a leading digital infrastructure and services provider for the Nigerian public sector, has played a pivotal role in championing e-government and  in designing and deploying the GSP.

Through its partnership with KOICA, Galaxy Backbone has ensured that the platform leverages the latest technologies, prioritizing user experience, accessibility, and cybersecurity.

KOICA has provided technical expertise, capacity-building support, and funding for the development of the portal, underscoring the shared commitment to Nigeria’s e-government strategy.

Key Highlights of the Government Service Portal:

Accelerating Digital Transformation: The GSP supports the Federal Government’s commitment to digitize public services, enabling more efficient governance and ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of location, can access essential services.

Improving Government-to-Citizen Engagement: By reducing the need for face-to-face interactions and offering real-time service tracking, the portal fosters a more transparent and responsive government, enhancing citizens’ trust in public institutions.

Secure and Accessible Services: The GSP is designed with robust cybersecurity features, ensuring that citizens’ data remains protected.

It is also mobile-friendly and accessible in multiple languages, making it easy for citizens from all parts of Nigeria to interact with government services online.

KOICA’s Role:

KOICA has provided strategic support, leveraging its expertise in e-governance and technology-driven public service delivery.

KOICA’s involvement ensures that the GSP aligns with international best practices and benefits from the lessons learned in similar successful projects globally.

Engagement Workshop with 12 Pilot Agencies:
The engagement workshop, which took place today, brought together senior officials from 12 pilot government agencies, including FMCIDE, NIMC, SMEDAN, NCC, NIPOST, FRSC, NAFDAC, NYSC, NPF, NIS, BPP and NEPC.

The goal of the workshop was to familiarize these agencies with the GSP’s features, capabilities, and integration process, and to ensure seamless service delivery as the portal goes live.

Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, who represented the Honourable Minister, highlighted the significance of this project and the need deepened collaboration and deeper citizen engagement. ‘The Government Service Portal has the potential to change lives and I believe that through and efficient and effective collaboration we will achieve a lot for our nation’.  Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanyu, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, emphasized the significance of this initiative in transforming how government services are delivered to Nigerians. He noted:

“The Government Service Portal is a testament to Nigeria’s dedication to embracing digitalisation for improved governance. Galaxy Backbone is proud to lead this initiative, working alongside KOICA to make public services more efficient, transparent, and accessible to all. With the engagement of these pilot agencies, we are taking a major step toward a fully digitized public service ecosystem that will benefit every Nigerian citizen.”

From KOICA’s side, the Country Director, Mr. Sunjil SON, expressed the agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s journey toward an inclusive digital economy, stating:

“KOICA is delighted to partner with Galaxy Backbone and the Government of Nigeria in delivering a platform that will change how citizens interact with their government. This initiative aligns with our broader mission of promoting sustainable development through technology and innovation.”

Looking Ahead:

According to the statement signed by Mr. Chidi Okpala, head, Media & Corporate Communications at GBB, the successful integration of the 12 pilot agencies is a precursor to a broader rollout of the GSP across all government ministries, departments, and agencies.

This initiative will serve as the backbone of Nigeria’s e-government strategy, reducing delays, improving transparency, and empowering citizens to engage more effectively with their government.

The initiative, which took effect this week, aimed at introducing new standards in line with global best practices, enhancing trade facilitation, ameliorating existing difficulties within the supply chain, and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global trading community.

Abdullahi Maiwada, the Customs National Public Relations Officer (PRO), made this known in a statement.

Adeniyi emphasized the need for robust support from all stakeholders, including other government agencies (OGAs) and development partners to promote the success of the pilot test. The pilot scheme, Adeniyi said, will be operational across all ports, where valuable insights and learning will be gathered to enhance service delivery.

These benefits, Adeniyi said, will be administered continuously, contingent on the compliance of all selected participants with the program’s provisions. The CGC stated further that the inaugural participants were carefully chosen based on their outstanding compliance within the supply chain, following an exhaustive three-month AEO validation process designed to uphold the highest selection standards.

Additionally, the AEO program is being implemented under the guidance of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), which has played a pivotal role by providing experts for capacity development, training, and supplying essential materials. The CGC said key partners such as the World Bank‘s Accelerating Revenue Mobilization Reforms (ARMOR) and various Customs administrations across the globe with emphasis on His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), South African Revenue Service (SARS), and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) where benchmarking exercises were conducted, have significantly contributed to the success of this initiative.

“As part of the program, consignments belonging to the selected Authorized Economic Operators will receive preferential treatment, including Automatic PAAR Registration, Direct Green Lane Routing, Dedicated Relationship Manager, and AEO Branding,”

The NCS, the CGC said, remains unwavering in its commitment to promoting transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business. The Service readily anticipates the full-scale implementation of the AEO program, further solidifying its dedication to fostering a seamless and secure trading environment for all Nigerians. The successful implementation of the pilot scheme, Adeniyi said, represents a key milestone in the Service’s pursuit of aligning with best practices towards efficient service delivery.

In the same vein, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, announced on Thursday that the service collected N277.5 billion in import duties for the month of August. Maiwada shared this information during the monthly press conference organized by the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC), which was hosted by the NCS in Abuja.

He further highlighted that the service also collected N15.8 billion in excise duties, reinforcing its commitment to optimizing revenue generation.in addition, Maiwada noted that as part of the NCS’s efforts to curb smuggling, the service recorded 83 seizures across various commands.

He said, “The seizure also includes 1,014 parcels of cannabis sativa, 23 vehicles, and other contraband, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N975,066,791.65.” “The NCS also intensified its “Operation Whirlwind” (OPWW) to combat the smuggling of petroleum products, especially in border states.”

“The operation over the months has led to the interception of seven PMS trucks, the sealing of 12 retail outlets, and the seizure of 466,000 litres of PMS and 23 vehicles,”

He explained that investigations had resulted in the prosecution of seven suspects, while three marketers were fined by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Additionally, sealed filling stations were handed over for further action.

During the briefing, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, emphasized that backdating firearm licenses to bypass the ban on firearms remains fraudulent.

He warned that individuals should not be deceived by those who backdate firearm licenses, stressing that such actions are illegal and that the licenses issued in this manner are still considered fake. Adejobi urged the public not to be complicit in criminal offenses related to firearms.

The spokesperson stated that the police force will take an aggressive approach in cracking down on the possession of illegal firearms across the country.

He also revealed that the force had arrested 97 members of the proscribed Shiite group after a confrontation with the police, during which two officers lost their lives.

The spokesperson issued a stern warning, stating that any attacks on police officers or other security personnel while they are performing their constitutional duties will not be tolerated.

This is part of moves to support the Police Force in boosting its operational capacity to improve the security situation in the country in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Agenda on Security.

Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, thee executive vice chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, made the pledge during a meeting with the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Mr. Kayode Egbetokun when he paid him a visit at the Force Headquarters on Friday February 2, 2024.

The NASENI boss said the Agency would mobilise and deploy financial and technical resources needed to retool, upgrade and modernize the NPF Vehicle Maintenance Workshops nationwide as well as recover, repair and reactivate all police vehicles that are not functional.

In so doing, he mentioned some of the benefits to be achieved to include: Improved security; Compliance to climate change action as NPF vehicles are converted from petrol and diesel to electric and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Other benefits to be derived are that the project would support local content efforts by prioritising the use of locally manufactured materials; Opportunities for skill acquisition and job creation and; Commercial returns to sustain ongoing maintenance of Police assets.

In his remarks the Inspector General of Police, said the collaboration between NASENI and the NPF will go a long way in impacting positively on the operations of the Police Force, its security architecture and overall service delivery.

Mr. Egbetokun further assured of the cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force towards providing the necessary support to NASENI to deliver on its mandate.

This was stated by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, in remarks to State House reporters at the conclusion of the Council meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja under the chairmanship of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He claims that during the fiscal year 2022–2023, the program will cover 318,319 police officers and men.

He said: “I submitted one very important memo to the Federal Executive Council, which has to do with the award of contract for the engagement of insurance underwriters and brokers for the coverage of group life assurance scheme for the Nigerian Police Force for the year 2022-2023 in the total sum of N13,321,742,038.83.

“This is going to cover our police population of 318,319, both officers and men. The Federal Executive Council has graciously approved this memo which will take effect from October 26, 2022, to October 26, 2023.”

The goal of the group life assurance program, according to the Minister, is to support the police officers and men who have been putting in a lot of effort to guarantee the protection of people and property all around the nation.

Abubakar Aliyu, the Minister of Electricity, spoke to the media about the FEC meeting’s results and announced that the Council had granted N3.4 billion for the restoration of Maiduguri, Bornopower,’s supply.

He said: “As you are aware, Maiduguri got disconnected from the national grid due to activities of insurgents. They have been disconnected for over 24 months.

“About nine months ago or thereabout, we were able to supply Maiduguri through an old line which we resuscitated through the effort of the Borno State Government’s Rural Electrification Agency and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

“They resuscitated a single line of 33KV from Damaturu, Yobe State, and through that, we took a very small quantity of electricity which could only give electricity on the 11KV line.

“So, we are now trying to supply through another new line, a double circuit 33KV which can take up to around 40 Megawatts from the Damaturu 330 substation.

“This is at a cost of N3,164,293,880 plus N250,000 million for security and other logistics.”

Inuwa who was represented by Director, Zonal Office Directorate, Mr. Babajide Ajayi stated this at the opening ceremony of a 5-day Capacity building programme for Officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Gombe State Command, Gombe State.

The DG of NITDA said the Nigeria Police Force is one of the most crucial security arms of government that needs the Agency’s collaboration towards achieving a collective mandate for the growth and development of the country.

Inuwa noted that emerging technologies are changing mode of operations around the world, making it highly digitalised and competitive, paving way into the fourth industrial revolution.

He cited the changes as inevitable and have transformed several government sectors including the security formation to adapt the use of Information Technology (IT) and network infrastructure in its operations and correspondences, making work faster and saving costs for the government.

Explaining the role of NITDA in ensuring that Nigeria become a digital country, Inuwa stated that the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021—2024) which has seven pillars was crafted in accordance with the current aspirations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and each pillar has a defining goal to be achieved by the year 2024.

According to Inuwa, the pillars are: Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Promotion of Indigenous Content Digital Transformation; Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies.

Speaking on the importance of timely collaboration to equip the personnel with digital skills, Inuwa said “the training and re-training of the Nigeria Police Force personnel is a priority of NITDA, and we will be delighted and elated to partner with the Force as they advance into having a digitally literate workforce that can use the computer for promotion and examination.”

Inuwa applauded the Nigeria Police Force for their relentless efforts in protecting lives and properties, rendering advisory security tips, and tackling criminal activities across the country to make life better for citizens.

While delivering his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command Ishola Babaita, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kabir Abdu, stated that the programme is a good initiative by NITDA which will help in promotional examinations of officers thus, changing the Force operations.

He urged participants to be focused by putting into practice everything they will learn from the training that will change the operations of the Nigeria Police Force.

He commended NITDA for its diverse interventions, programme and projects across the country, stating that it is yielding positive results, and that such high tempo should be maintained towards the deepening of Information Technology across the country.