The Federal Government has launched service portal that would enable people to have access to single window information and services provided by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson,  said at the launch of the portal in Abuja that it was just one of the ministry’s projects to leverage on the use of ICT in the country.

“What we have done is that we have developed a single point of entry for all Nigerians or anybody wherever they may be in the world to access government services online.

“This single point of entry is domiciled in www.services.gov.ng domain name.

“This is not the first time we are launching service online. There are a number of government services that are actually delivered online but what has happened over time was that each of the MDAs was working on their own.

“Now, you can tell from a single point, what is exactly available to services online through government agencies.’’

Jonhson said that ministries, in addition to creating single window of entry into government services, were to work with other ministries to launch 10 additional services that are going to be offer online.

“What we have also done is that we have created a standard template for all government Website and ensure that transactions on the web are secured.’’

She said with the launch of the service portal, government would begin to offer faster, cheaper and more efficient service deliveries and business that could always be accessible.

Johnson said the ministry will soon launch other innovations it has been working on, to promote the use of ICT to ensure transparency and better services from government.

“This Friday, we are going to be launching our innovative centres in Lagos and also, in a few weeks in Calabar, we are going to lunch government contact centres.’’

The minister, however, called on the media to sensitise Nigerians to the services available on the portal, as the country has the highest internet traffic in Africa.

“With about 44 million Nigerians connected to the internet every day. Every one of them should be able to transact business on the portal.’’

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Henry Akpan,  also expressed optimism that the launch of the portal would promote investment that would enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He said that the ministry was committed to promoting effective service delivery using ICT.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Mr Gerald Ilukwe, said the separation of roles between the programme coordinator, the technology provider and online services providers was critical to the programme’s success.

He said that similar programmes had failed in the past due to confusion and overlapping roles.

Ilukwe also explained that Galaxy backbone, as the ICT provider of the federal government establishments, remained a key partner in the programme.

“These services will continue to be owned and provided by the respective MDAs.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Customs Service has said the launch of the Nigerian Service Portal would enable Nigeria to be better ranked among the comity of nations with enabling environment for doing business.

The Comptroller-General of Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, stated this at the official launch of Federal Government Service Portal by the Ministry of Communication Technology on Tuesday in Abuja.

Dikko, represented by  the Deputy-Controller General of Customs Mr Bashar Yusuf, said that the portal would make other developing countries to look up to Nigeria’s building model in doing business.

Dikko added that the model would also provide a platform that would guarantee integrity of government institutions and their operations within and outside the country.

He said that the Nigerian Customs had also been involved in the course of doing business in the country through the development of a portal with rich contents which would also be co-opted into the service portal.

He said “it is an opportunity to give Nigeria that chance to be a model in ensuring integrity of its own citizens. It is equally an opportunity that will give Nigeria a better world ranking in comity of nations.

He said “we know very well not quit long ago there was an audit of 185 countries and Nigeria took the 184th position in the course of doing business. It is not the best position.

“Why are we taken 184 positions? Because the cost of doing business in Nigeria highly cumbersome. There is nothing facilitating anything. That was why we jumped into that business to say it will never be the same again”.