Emmanuel Daudu
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Tuesday declared an end to the era of physical file handling in the Ministry with the official launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), describing the development as the beginning of a new age of digital efficiency.
The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, spoke at the ECMS Go-Live ceremony held on December 23, 2025, at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.
Musa said the deployment of the ECMS marked a fundamental shift in the way the Ministry conducts its business, stressing that while technology provides the tools, staff dedication remains the key driver of success. He urged management and staff to embrace the new digital work culture with an open mind, noting that the initiative goes beyond software deployment to redefining national security administration.
According to him, the digital transition aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency as critical pillars for national development.
He noted that the civil service, as the engine room of government, 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 her leadership in setting December 31, 2025, as the deadline for all extra-ministerial departments and agencies to go paperless.
He also acknowledged the strategic partnership of Galaxy Backbone and praised the Ministry’s ICT team for ensuring the successful Go-Live of the system.
In her remarks, Mrs. Walson-Jack described the launch of the ECMS as a milestone that would stand the test of time, noting that any initiative that strengthens efficiency, accountability and secure information management within the civil service is welcome. She emphasised that for a ministry such as Defence, whose mandate lies at the core of national sovereignty and security, effective record management is indispensable.
She said the deployment of the ECMS on the 1Government Cloud represents a fundamental change in how government business is conducted, enabling secured digital records, automated workflows, electronic approvals and interoperability across government platforms.
According to her, decision-making will now be driven by timely access to information rather than delayed by the physical movement of files.
The Head of Service added that the development places the Ministry of Defence on track to meet the Federal Government’s directive for full digitalisation by December 31, 2025, and directly supports 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, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, said the ECMS launch represents a critical step towards improved efficiency, transparency and collaboration within government operations.
He explained that the 1Government Cloud ECMS is a sovereign solution designed to centralise content, enhance document security and equip staff with tools needed for effective service delivery.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, described the launch as a pivotal transition from paper-based processes to a fully digital environment.
He noted that the adoption of the ECMS is strategic, as efficiency in defence administration directly impacts national security.
Pheelangwa added that the collaboration with Galaxy Backbone has strengthened the Ministry’s infrastructure to support the demands of a paperless system, while outlining key benefits of the ECMS to include improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, transparency and accountability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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