Nigerian MDAs Go Paperless with Cloud Storage

The Federal Government has commenced the full-scale rollout of its “1Government” Cloud (1Gov) Digitalisation Project, a sovereign platform designed to eliminate paper-based governance and bring Nigeria’s civil service into the digital age.

The project, implemented through Galaxy Backbone Limited under the Sovereign Digitalisation Programme, will consolidate all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on a single digital infrastructure.

Officials say this initiative is more than a technological upgrade; it is a governance reform tool aimed at tackling inefficiency, reducing waste, and closing loopholes that have historically enabled corruption. For decades, Nigeria’s civil service has struggled with inefficiency and corruption loopholes. Files have “gone missing” during investigations, and fire outbreaks in government offices have conveniently destroyed sensitive documents. These incidents often stall anti-corruption probes and erase vital evidence.

Migrating to the cloud changes this status quo, as digitising all records and workflows creates an immutable system that makes file tampering or disappearance nearly impossible.

“The paperless governance initiative will eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks by streamlining approvals and inter-agency communication. It will significantly cut costs associated with printing, storage, and distribution of physical files, while enhancing transparency and accountability in public service delivery,” said Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud, Wumi Oghoetuoma.

Experts note that cloud migration introduces immutable digital trails, encrypted storage, and automated workflows, making it nearly impossible to tamper with records or erase evidence. The system also protects government data from disasters such as fire and flooding, which have repeatedly wiped out archives in the past.

Oghoetuoma added that the platform will improve the security of sensitive documents and accelerate decision-making across MDAs.

Galaxy Backbone’s Managing Director, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the launch as a turning point in Nigeria’s digital journey.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has directed all MDAs to fully digitise their operations by the end of 2025. This aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which prioritises digital transformation as a core driver of improved performance and efficiency.

For Nigeria, the stakes extend beyond efficiency. Digital governance means stronger accountability, protection of institutional memory, and an end to the excuses of “lost files” that have haunted anti-corruption efforts for decades. If fully implemented, this reform could restore public trust and mark the beginning of a truly transparent civil service.