The Federal Ministry of Environment has officially joined Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda with the launch of the Galaxy Backbone (GBB) 1Government Cloud Digitalisation Programme, a key initiative aimed at modernising environmental governance and advancing sustainability through technology.
During the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the initiative as a “milestone in modernising environmental governance and advancing Nigeria’s sustainability goals.”
“Digitalisation is no longer optional; it is a necessity. Through the Galaxy Backbone 1Government Cloud, we are enabling data-driven environmental management, eliminating paperwork, reducing operational costs, and directly cutting carbon emissions,”
— Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment
The Minister added that the digitalisation programme will enhance transparency, promote evidence-based policymaking, and improve service delivery to citizens.
Background: The 1Government Cloud Vision
In May 2024, Galaxy Backbone Ltd (GBB) unveiled its plan to digitise 70% of federal government services by 2025. Central to this vision is the 1Government Cloud (1Gov), a comprehensive digital framework designed to unify Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under one secure digital ecosystem.
The 1Gov platform aims to advance data sovereignty, ensuring Nigeria maintains control over its digital assets rather than relying on foreign cloud providers. This approach supports the country’s broader national autonomy and cybersecurity goals.
By September 2025, several key MDAs, including the Ministries of Solid Minerals, Steel Development, Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Intergovernmental Affairs, had begun onboarding to the 1Gov platform under the Sovereign Digitalisation Programme.
Transition to a Paperless Government
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Adam Kambari, commended the Minister for championing Nigeria’s transition to paperless governance. He also praised the GBB 1Gov Cloud Team, led by Mr. Wumi Oghoetuoma, for providing a secure and indigenous platform for government operations.
Oghoetuoma, who serves as Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud initiative, described it as “a bold stride in Africa’s digital transformation journey.”
“The Galaxy 1Government Programme is leading public sector digitalisation in Africa, for Africa, by Africa. This is not just about technology; it is about protecting our digital destiny and sovereignty,”
— Wumi Oghoetuoma, Programme Director, 1Gov Cloud
Indigenous Applications Driving Transformation
The 1Government Cloud platform offers a suite of homegrown applications designed to replace fragmented and foreign systems, including:
- GovECM – Enterprise Content Management
- GovDrive – Secure File Storage
- GovESign – Digital Signatures
- GovMail – Official Communication
- GovInMail – Secure Inter-MDA Messaging
- GovConference – Virtual Meetings
- GovAssetManager – Asset Tracking
- GovOTP – Multi-Factor Authentication
According to Oghoetuoma, the Ministry of Environment has already gone live on the GBB 1Gov Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), with:
- 15 offices and departments onboarded
- 316 workflows created, and
- 890 user accounts activated
A Step Toward Digital Sovereignty
Dr. Sam Nwosu, CEO of Secured Records Management Solutions Ltd, lauded the initiative as “proof of Nigeria’s ability to develop world-class digital infrastructure.”
He emphasized that the programme demonstrates technological self-reliance and marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable, data-driven governance.
With the Ministry of Environment’s adoption of the 1Gov Cloud, Nigeria takes another significant step toward smart governance, sustainability, and digital independence, setting an example for other African nations to follow.
