Automation of Oil Ministry Processes Begins as Nigeria Moves Toward Paperless Governance
By Naija Enquirer Staff
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has begun the automation of its internal operations, marking a significant step toward paperless governance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The initiative, launched under the federal government’s Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system “Go Live,” is designed to digitise workflows, approvals and correspondence across the ministry, while also enabling secure electronic engagement with regulators, operators and other stakeholders.
The automation drive is expected to reduce bureaucratic delays, limit excessive human discretion in routine processes and cut costs associated with manual documentation.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, described the project as a bold and transformative initiative conceived by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to Lokpobiri, the shift from analogue to digital operations would ensure seamless conduct of government business and significantly enhance communication within the petroleum ministry.
“This is one initiative that is truly transformative. It aligns with global best practices and ensures that government business is done in a seamless manner,” Lokpobiri said.
He noted that with support from Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s national digital infrastructure provider, departments and agencies would no longer need to incur travel costs for document processing, as approvals could now be completed electronically.
Describing the petroleum sector as central to Nigeria’s economic stability, Lokpobiri stressed that improvements in the oil and gas sector would have positive ripple effects across the entire economy.
In her keynote address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said the deployment of the ECM system would strengthen public service effectiveness by enabling faster workflows, secure record management and reduced reliance on paper.
She said the Ministry of Petroleum Resources occupies a strategic position in national development, with its efficiency directly impacting revenue generation, investment confidence and energy security.
“Today’s launch represents a deliberate shift in how work is organised, records are managed and decisions are supported. Manual processes can no longer meet the operational demands of this ministry,” Walson-Jack said.
She explained that the ECM system, deployed on the 1Gov Cloud platform, enables electronic approvals, automated workflows and interoperability across government institutions, ensuring secure records, clear audit trails and reliable institutional memory.
The initiative also aligns with the federal government’s directive on full digitalisation of public service processes by December 31, 2025, and advances Pillar Five of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which prioritises digitalisation.
However, Walson-Jack cautioned that digital transformation requires consistent use and discipline, stressing that the success of the system depends on strict adherence to established digital processes.
She added that paper-based correspondence within the ministry would gradually be phased out, with official communications routed through designated electronic registry channels.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Patience Oyekunle, said the launch marked the transition from manual, paper-based operations to a modern digital platform that would enhance transparency, efficiency and service delivery.
Oyekunle noted that the development aligns with ongoing public service reforms and positions the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for more effective policy coordination and sector oversight.
