The Ministry of Defence has formally transitioned to paperless operations with the unveiling of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), marking a major milestone in the digital transformation of Nigeria’s defence administration.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, announced the development on Tuesday in Abuja at the formal Go-Live launch of the ECMS at the ministry’s headquarters.

Mr Musa described the initiative as a fundamental shift in how the ministry conducts the business of national security, noting that it went beyond the deployment of software to redefining efficiency, accountability and decision-making within the defence sector.

According to him, the transition aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which places digital transformation and bureaucratic efficiency at the centre of national development.

“The civil service is the engine room of this agenda and must be modernised to meet global standards.

“I commend the head of the Civil Service of the Federation for setting December 31, 2025, as the deadline for all MDAs to go paperless.

“Today, the Ministry of Defence proudly stands at the forefront of this compliance,” he said.

The minister said that efficiency in defence administration directly impacts operational readiness, stressing that delays in file movement or approvals could have serious implications for national security.

He explained that the ECMS would significantly accelerate decision-making, enhance information security through encrypted digital records, and preserve institutional memory by creating a robust and secure digital archive.

“In the defence sector, time is critical. Approvals that once took days will now take minutes. When administration is lean and fast, support to troops on the front lines becomes more effective,” Mr Musa said.

Mr Musa urged directors and staff of the ministry to fully embrace the new system, noting that technology was only effective when driven by committed users.

He expressed optimism that the ECMS would enhance workflow speed and efficiency across the ministry.

“The era of physical file-carrying is ending. The era of digital efficiency has begun,” he said.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described the initiative as “timely and strategic,” noting that effective records management was essential for a ministry at the core of national security.

Ms Walson-Jack commended the leadership of the ministry for embracing the digital platform, which she said would strengthen institutional memory, improve workflow discipline, and ensure timely access to critical records.

She said the deployment of the ECMS on the OneGov Cloud platform represents a fundamental shift in public service operations, allowing secure digital records, automated workflows, electronic approvals, and interoperability across government agencies.

She noted that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s directive for the full digitalisation of work processes and advances Pillar Five of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025), prioritising digital transformation across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwah, described the launch as a defining moment in the administrative evolution of the ministry.

According to him, the transition represents a deliberate response to the federal government’s digital transformation agenda, emphasising that efficiency in defence administration directly impacts national security.

He noted that the system ensures faster file movement, secure archiving of sensitive records, accurate processing of approvals, and overall accountability in ministry operations.

The permanent secretary commended the ministry’s ICT staff for their dedication in implementing the system and acknowledged the strategic support of Galaxy Backbone Limited, whose fibre-optic connectivity and secure data hosting formed the digital backbone of the initiative.

He highlighted the benefits of the ECMS, including enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and transparency, describing the launch as “a bold and irreversible step into the future of public sector governance”.

The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the event as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

He emphasised that the ECMS was not merely a technology deployment but a sovereign digital solution designed to centralise content, strengthen document security, and empower public servants to work efficiently and securely.

He added that the company remained committed to equipping and training the ministry to maximise the platform’s benefits and advance transparency, efficiency, and service delivery across the federal civil service. 

(NAN)