Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has directed an immediate review of the state’s electronic governance platform following alarming discoveries about its backend operations.
The order was detailed in a government special announcement dated November 25, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor.
The statement revealed a critical security vulnerability: the entire e-governance platform is currently being operated by unknown non-state actors, with no administrative control from within the Edo State Public Service.
“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,” the announcement stated. The governor characterized this situation as a “clear and present danger” necessitating urgent intervention.
Addressing potential misunderstandings, the government emphasized that the e-governance platform has not been shut down. “While all officials and staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to continue to work on the e-governance platform, pending the outcome of the review,” the statement read.
The Explainer learned the objectives of the review include: enabling the Edo State government to gain total administrative control of the platform, restoring the institutional memory of government, addressing the current lack of institutional oversight.
