Edo e-governance platform under serious security threat – Okpebholo

By Jethro Ibileke

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo has frowned at the running  of the the state’s electronic governance platform from the backend by  ‘unknown non-state actors’.

Okpebholo who described the situation as a serious data security threat, ordered an urgent review of the entire e-governance platform.

The order was contained in a government special announcement, dated 25 November, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor.

The announcement noted that no one within the entire State public service has administrative control of the platform.

He, however, dismissed as untrue, reports on social media that the state government had shut down the platform.

“The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to a report making the rounds that the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration has shut down the e-governance platform initiated by the previous administration. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“It has however been observed that the entire e-governance platform of Edo State Government is being run and operated from the backend by unknown non-state actors and no one within the entire Public Service of Edo State has administrative control of the platform.

“This is considered a serious data security threat as it has placed the entire governance structure of the state at the mercy of non-state actors or so-called consultants. This, therefore, calls for an urgent need to review the process.

“In the light of the foregoing and in order to remedy this clear and present danger, the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate review of the entire e-governance platform with a view to enabling the Edo State government gain total administrative control of the platform and restoring institutional memory of government which the current platform lacks.

“While the review is ongoing, all officials and staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to continue to work on the e-governance platform pending the outcome of ongoing review.

“This statement is to also dismiss as untrue, some reports in a section of the social media that the state government has shut down the platform,” the statement said.