Petroleum minister says technology reforms will fail without broad capacity-building across public service
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to prioritise comprehensive training for ministers and civil servants to ensure the success of the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
Lokpobiri made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, warning that many public officials are still operating with an “analogue mindset” despite ongoing reforms to digitise government operations.
His remarks came barely 24 hours after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, publicly acknowledged that he was still adjusting to the new digital work environment and would require further training to operate effectively within the system.
“There are a lot of analogue civil servants, and there are also analogue ministers,” Lokpobiri said. “If this system is to work for everyone, then everyone must be trained. Some people are not technology-savvy, and without proper capacity-building, we won’t maximise the opportunities this reform offers.”
End to Paper-Based Processes
The ECMS, deployed on the 1Gov Cloud platform, is designed to replace manual, paper-based workflows with electronic approvals, automated processes, and secure digital record-keeping, significantly reducing delays associated with physical file movement.
Lokpobiri described the system as a transformative step, noting that Nigeria’s reliance on manual processes had long slowed decision-making and inflated administrative costs.
“One of our biggest challenges has been the analogue way of doing things. Sometimes, for simple approvals, officials have to travel physically, even outside the country just to sign documents. This can take weeks,” he said. “This initiative changes that narrative and aligns Nigeria with global best practices.”
He praised the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for driving the reform, adding that digital systems would strengthen institutions, improve resource management, and unlock greater value in the oil and gas sector through efficient data and record management.
FG Targets Full Digitalisation by December 2025
Speaking at the event, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the ECMS deployment places the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on track to meet the Federal Government’s directive for full digitalisation of work processes by December 31, 2025.
She said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s public service reform agenda, which seeks to build a more efficient, transparent, and digitally enabled civil service.
“This initiative enhances the effectiveness of the public service by enabling faster workflows, secure record management, and reduced dependence on paper,” Walson-Jack said. “For a ministry central to Nigeria’s economic stability and energy security, this milestone is both timely and critical.”
She added that the petroleum ministry’s operational efficiency directly affects revenue generation, investor confidence, and national planning, stressing that manual systems are no longer adequate for a sector that interfaces constantly with regulators, operators, and other government agencies.
According to her, the ECMS will provide secure records, clear audit trails, efficient workflows, and a reliable institutional memory across the Federal Civil Service.
Walson-Jack noted that the deployment advances Pillar Five of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which prioritises digitalisation across ministries, departments, and agencies.
“Digital transformation does not end with the launch of a system,” she said. “Its success depends on consistent use, compliance with processes, and sustained digital discipline.”
Permanent Secretary Welcomes Transition
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Patience Oyekunle, described the ECMS launch as a decisive shift from manual operations to a modern digital platform that would enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.
She said the deployment reflects broader public service reforms being implemented by the Federal Government and commended the Head of Service for providing the leadership that made the initiative possible.
The ECMS rollout is part of wider efforts by the Federal Government to modernise governance, reduce bureaucratic delays, and improve service delivery, with the petroleum ministry joining a growing number of MDAs transitioning to fully paperless operations.
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