E-Business
Galaxy Backbone’s i-Gov.net Integrates Government, Citizens

Galaxy Backbone Plc, the integrated information communication technology company for federal government, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), has reiterated its determination to support the Federal Government in bridging the gap between government and the citizens of Nigeria.
Gerald Ilukwe, managing drector of Galaxy Backbone, made the pledge last week at the opening of the Social Media Week held at the e-Learning Centre, Lagos. He informed the audience that its i-Gov.net platform facilitates improved engagement between the federal government, MDAs and the people of the country.
Amara Nwankpa, Head of Marketing, Galaxy Backbone, said the i-Gov.net has about 4,000 nodes that provide connectivity to over 350 government ministries, departments and agencies.
“A key objective of i-Gov.net is to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery to the citizens of the country. From prompt processing of travelers at the Immigrations’ desk or issuance of drivers’ licenses, to prompt payment of workers’ salaries, to efficient conduct of the Federal Executive Council deliberations, Galaxy Backbone is enhancing e-government and good governance in Nigeria,” said Nwankpa.
“We are also supporting the Petroleum Equalisation Fund to track the movement of petroleum products from the various depots in the country, facilitating accountability in ensuring the uniform pricing of these products across the nation”, he further said.
He stated that the current initiatives on the i-Gov.net platform most relevant to the social media discussions were the Government Contact Center (GCC) and the National Single Window Portal (SWP), which will provide electronic channels for citizens and other stakeholders to access information and services being provided by the various ministries, departments and agencies. Galaxy Backbone is managing the execution of these soon-to-be launched initiatives on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology.
In addition, he explained that Galaxy Backbone’s services also help improve Government’s internal efficiency – helping it to be more effective and responsive. Examples of initiatives that facilitate this include the Electronic Documents Management System/Council Chambers Automation System (EDMS/CCAS) that is transforming the mode of preparing council memos from manual to digital; and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) that has revolutionized the payroll system to reduce incidence of fraud and time spent on computation of workers’ salaries.
Social Media Week is a worldwide event exploring the social, cultural and economic impact of social media. According to the organizers, the event is to help people and organizations connect through collaboration, learning and the sharing of ideas and information. The Social Media Week Lagos brings together thought leaders, creative people, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens from Nigeria to explore how people and organizations can connect with one another to share new ideas and information.
E-Business
Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon wrote in an email to employees.
He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.
According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.
Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.
However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.
“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.
The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.
Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.
The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.
E-Business
BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.
He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.
“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.
Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.
He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.
“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.
He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.
According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.
He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.
Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.
He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.
Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.
Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.
E-Business
FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.
He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.
“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.
“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.
He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.
In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.
The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.
Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.
It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.
- Telecom2 days ago
ALTON Clarifies on Migration to End-User Billing for USSD Services
- Telecom3 days ago
GSMA, Mobile Industry Call for Strengthened Action to Advance Child Online Protection in Africa
- News2 days ago
Digital Africa Global Consult, NDPC Partner on Ground-Breaking “Nigeria Data Challenge” Initiative
- General News3 days ago
TD Africa, HP Strengthen Partnership to Advance Africa’s Tech Ecosystem
- E-Financial2 days ago
Nigerian Stock Market Suffers ₦183 Billion Loss Amid Profit-Taking
- News2 days ago
DStv Rewards Loyal Customers with Free Package Upgrades
- Telecom2 days ago
Lagos Future Conference 2025: Stakeholders Call for Digital Responsibility and Grassroots Innovation
- General News2 days ago
African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service