By Ibrahim Olukotun
Lagos. April 17, 2013: The Federal Government has launched a portal for the delivery of public sector services to Nigerians in a major push in its e-government drive.
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Communication Technology and was unveiled Tuesday as the pioneering national portal for delivery of public sector services via www.services.gov.ng.
Technology Times post-launch checks on the website shows that it is being positioned to function as a ‘one stop shop’ for government information and online delivery platform for public sector services.
Omobola Johnson, Minister for Communication Technology says it will open a new vista in government’s effort to use ICTs in delivering services to Nigerians.
“The portal is part of ‘Getting Government Online’ initiative to enable citizens and businesses better interact with government”, the Minister says following the unveiling of the website.
Speaking through Efem Nkanga, her Media Adviser, the minister that by logging on to the website, users are able to engage with all the government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on a single portal.
“This is the beginning of good things to come for all Nigerians. The portal will create an easy and single point of entry for Nigerians and other stakeholders to access government services online”, she says adding that other programs are underway to take government business on to the Internet.
To cut through barriers in languages because of its global outlook, the site is available in three international languages including English, French and Spanish.
The Federal Ministry of Communication Technology is also responsible for the management of its content.
The dynamic and interactive database driven website contains information on services rendered by government including Education and learning. Under this section users can find public schools including primary, secondary and public tertiary institutions. This section also avails the visitor an opportunity to check school reports, register for exams and check examination results.
Business and organizations is another segment that provides information on business, trademark registration, industrial designs and patents.
For those desiring to have a better understanding of the workings of civil services, its functions and key drivers, they will find the section on civil and public services offering valuable information.
Other information services available are Finance and Tax, Information and Communication Technology which provide information on how to apply for spectrum licences, classes of licences and information about the vibrant telecoms sector in Nigeria.
Also, there are sections on: Immigration Passport and Visas, Health and Welfare, Justice and legal process, Farming and Agriculture, Pension and Benefits, Driving and Transport, Citizenship and Voting.
The first nation’s national portal also contains a section called the directory that contains a comprehensive list of all Federal MDAs, Commissions and institutions operating in Nigeria.
The section also shows their locations and other relevant information. Arranged in alphabetical order, it also offers information on other government websites and online services that do not fall under Federal MDAs.
There is a dedicated section for foreigners who want to visit Nigeria, this section provides information on how to Apply for Entry Visa, ECOWAS Residence card, Socio- economic data, Free Zone Entry Visa.
The business community will get relevant information on how to register as a seed company, seed import/ Export permit, Oil and Gas compliance among others.
To deepen government-citizen interaction, the site contains information on how to register as a Tax payer, obtain Driver’s licence, as well as information on how to register for public examinations. It also includes details on How to identify fake drugs, Health Insurance scheme, Oil and Gas training, how to get a National Identity Card, among others.
By this initiative, Nigeria has joined the leagues of nations deploying operational e-government which ensures efficient and prompt service delivery. Valuable data which are useful for social and economic planning purposes will be readily accessible thereby driving overall development.
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