Galaxy Backbone to Automate EXCOF Information Management System

The information management system of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) will be automated before the end of the 2010 fiscal year in order to enable the council memos to be circulated to its members online ahead of its weekly meetings.
This pledge was made by Gerald Ilukwe, managing director of Galaxy Backbone during a courtesy visit to Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by the management team of the company, on Tuesday May 1, 2010 in Abuja.
According to Mr. Ilukwe, the implementation of the government-wide email service is designed to enhance secured communication between the EXCOF Secretariat and its members as well as improve efficiency in the operations of the council. He stated that, “This will be Galaxy Backbone’s 50th independence anniversary gift” to the country.
Galaxy Backbone is a public enterprise of the Federal Government established in 2006 to build and operate a single nation-wide IP broadband network to provide network services to all Federal Government MDAs. The company is also the provider of transversal infrastructure and services to all Federal Government MDAs, e.g. manage Government Data Centers and databases, Identity Management, IP-telephony and other solutions, and will leverage the capacity of the network to provide connectivity, internet access and extend Government services to rural and underserved communities.
Ilukwe informed the SGF that Galaxy Backbone is committed to achieving the Government’s objectives in setting up the ICT Company and has developed a single ICT platform concept which is a secure, common platform for addressing the connectivity and other technology imperatives of Government MDAs. The platform is designed to achieve significant cost savings through economies of scale and reduce duplication in the system. It will also ensure the availability of skilled manpower to manage ICT facilities and services in Government. Ilukwe said that though it appears to be new in Nigeria, the concept is consistent with government policy and practice in many emerging economies such as South Africa, Mauritius, Iran, India, etc. For example, the concept provides the technology platform to support Government’s IT enabled transversal services such as IPPIS, Travel Desk, Email, GIFMIS, PIMU and others.
Ilukwe further stated the Galaxy Backbone has installed 2900 remote sites nationwide under the NICEP project, while currently expanding fiber optic rollout of 200kms to cover all key MDAs in Abuja metropolis and this will be supported by terrestrial wireless (Radio) infrastructure. Mr. Ilukwe said that the company has completed the networking of Federal Secretariat phases 1 & 2 with 2500 nodes each and is providing Internet Access and Virtual Private Network services to over 250 MDAs nationwide. According to Ilukwe, “All Ministries Head quarters and key establishments in Abuja are currently serviced by Galaxy Backbone with connectivity to more than 70% of the MDAs since 2008”
He  also mentioned that the Government Data Centre built and operated by Galaxy Backbone is currently hosting servers and applications for MDAs including NAN, HOS – Pensions, PENCOM, Kaduna Board of Internal Revenue, etc. Galaxy Backbone is also providing consulting and professional Services to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, etc.
 The company’s boss solicited the cooperation of the SGF in ensuring that MDAs comply with government’s directive that mandated them to secure their ICT requirements from Galaxy Backbone. He enumerated the challenges Galaxy is facing to include the absence of a strategic and holistic approach to ICT in Public Sector and Education as well as the prevailing culture of spending as opposed to cost-effective service delivery. He cited other challenges which include: The failure of budgetary provisions to match steep rise in demand for Galaxy Backbone’s services, power and other infrastructural issues in most MDAs, weak budgetary process which continues to encourage separate and wasteful approach to ICT services delivery in the public sector and the seeming reluctance by “autonomous MDAs to comply with SGF circular on Galaxy’s mandate
Responding, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed promised to support the management of Galaxy Backbone in reinforcing its mandate and achieving Government objectives for setting up the company.
 Alhaji Ahmed urged the MD and his team to work toward bringing about the expected efficiency in the running of Government business through the provision of quality and value adding ICT services. The Galaxy team was also advised to develop a strategy to ensure the buy-in and support of its stakeholders.