As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) leads activities and services of governments in modern times, the ICT department of the Rivers State government has prioritised its efforts towards ensuring that the State Secretariat Complex becomes ICT compliant to compete favourably with other ICT states around the world. 

 This has been achieved through various ways including the implementation of the Active Directory Services (ADS), e-Service Portal and Wireless Area Network (WLAN).

Briefing Newsmen on the state of ICT in Rivers State, Thursday, in Port Harcourt, the Special Adviser to the  governor on information and Communication Technology, Mr Goodlife Nmekini explained that the Active Directory Service, a network access control acts as a central authority for network security and has been a major tool for the management of resources and network in the state’s resource-based environment, the secretariat.

Nmekini said that the Active Directory Service Network was meant to protect government’s information like it is obtainable in every other advanced country in the world.

Describing the network as Rivers State government’s workers network, the SA maintained that the network can only be accessed by the state’s government’s workers, contractors and or authorised persons adding that government’s information must be protected from the public for security reasons.

While noting that the Rivers State government has not only gone into e-governance but transparency in governance, Nmekini said the department was ensuring that every worker at the state secretariat who logs into the system gains access to it after due authentication, adding that the ADS was meant to provide staff of the state’s secretariat the ability to back up or flow with governemnt’s information in and among themselves.

In his words: “We want to make sure that every staff of the state secretariat logs on tot the system. When you log, It will authenticate you before you gain access to the system. The reason for that is because we are moving into critical areas. We are now beginning to gather government’s property so that every ministry would be able to collaborate and share information. And to be able to do that, we need a secured environment.”

Nmekini also stated that one of the biggest benefits of the ADS was the ability to manage all the networks and resources from one location to the other and sharing resources on different printers.

The Special Adviser further revealed that the implemented e-service portal, www.riverstate.gov.ng was meant to provide easy access to online platforms that are laced with cutting-edge technology.

He explained that the e-service portal would reduce the stress and difficulties associated with transaction between the government and its citizenry.

In order to achieve the goals of his Excellency’s transparent government, we had to put something together in the form of a portal. For instance, there is a form for the citizenry to fill and submit to the government. We want a situation where you can access the information; download it and fill it from the comfort of your homes and we will also be able to receive the forms from here. This will remove congestion from the roads and also help in combating the difficulties of having to come down to the secretariat,” he said.

Nmekini further stated that Wireless Area Network (WLAN) is on-going at the State Secretariat Complex and the government House were efforts by the department to keep the state in tune with ICT activities.

Lady Levi Usende