By JESSICA DOGO

The Federal Government on Tuesday soft-launched the Government Service Portal (GSP), a unified digital platform providing Nigerians with seamless access to public services through a single online gateway.

Developed by Galaxy Backbone, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and KOICA, the portal targets improved efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the platform will simplify interactions with government institutions through faster, easier and more secure access to essential public services.

Speaking in Abuja, Permanent Secretary, Mr Nadungu Gagare, represented by Director of E-Government, Mr Johnson Bareyi, described the initiative as a milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Gagare said the portal was among the flagship projects under Nigeria’s e-Government Masterplan 2.0, developed through collaboration between government institutions and development partners.

He said citizens would access multiple government services through a single secure sign-in, eliminating repeated registrations and submissions across different government platforms.

“Our mandate is not simply to deploy technology but to use technology to improve governance and public service delivery.

“The Government Service Portal provides Nigerians with a single digital gateway to access government services in a simpler, faster and more seamless manner,” Gagare said.

According to him, the platform aligns with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, and Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure agenda.

The portal will integrate with the Nigerian Digital Exchange, enabling secure information sharing among authorised institutions while reducing duplication across government agencies.

Gagare said the initiative would reduce service delays, improve transparency, strengthen accountability and support the Federal Government’s drive to enhance ease of doing business nationwide.

He urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies to integrate their digital services into the platform, ensuring wider accessibility and greater public value for citizens and businesses.

Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the portal as another major step towards building a connected, efficient and citizen-centred digital government.

Adeyanju said the GSP would serve as a unified digital gateway where citizens and businesses could conveniently discover and access government services from one location.

“For far too long, citizens have had to navigate numerous websites, offices and service channels to interact with government.

“The Government Service Portal seeks to change that by simplifying access, improving visibility, promoting consistency and creating a seamless experience,” Adeyanju said.

He described the platform as a critical component of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure, complementing existing digital identity, payment and secure government data exchange systems.

Adeyanju said the soft launch would onboard pioneer agencies, evaluate user experience and enable improvements before nationwide deployment of the platform.

He urged MDAs to integrate their services, stressing the portal’s long-term success depended on sustained collaboration across government institutions.

“The true measure of this portal will be the ease with which citizens access government services and the trust built between government and the people,” he said.

Executive Director, Digital Exploration and Technical Services, Mr Olumbe Akinkugbe, said extensive User Acceptance Testing covered all six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.

Akinkugbe said 184 participants joined the exercise, with more than 80 per cent describing the portal as user-friendly, accessible and easy to navigate.

He said 88 per cent successfully located government services, while 71 per cent rated the platform’s performance as fast or very fast during testing.

According to him, 91 per cent expressed willingness to use the portal, while 99 per cent said they would recommend it to others.

Akinkugbe said pilot feedback highlighted improvements required in user registration, image capture processes and One-Time Password delivery for authentication.

He said Galaxy Backbone would strengthen system architecture, enhance security, onboard additional MDAs and introduce email and WhatsApp verification channels during the pilot phase.

He said the portal would improve service delivery, simplify regulatory processes and position Nigeria as a technology-driven destination for investors, innovators and visitors.

Senior Deputy Country Director of KOICA, Mr Baik Ki-hyun, representing the Country Director, described the portal as a landmark achievement in bilateral cooperation.

Ki-hyun said the platform was the flagship outcome of the four-year Building Foundations Towards Digital Governance in Nigeria project between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea.

He commended Galaxy Backbone for leading implementation and expressed confidence in the agency’s capacity to sustain the platform beyond the project’s completion.

Ki-hyun also acknowledged Nigerian and Korean technical experts, software developers and government officials for successfully delivering the digital governance initiative.

He expressed confidence that Galaxy Backbone and its partners would continue strengthening the platform, stressing digital governance requires continuous innovation, improvement and collaboration.

NAN reports the Government Service Portal will progressively provide citizens and businesses access to an expanding range of government services as more MDAs join the platform. (NAN)

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