The Federal Government has launched the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to entrench digital governance and enhance efficiency across the maritime and blue economy sector.
The system was jointly unveiled by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy on Tuesday in Abuja.
In his remarks, Akume said the system would minimise bureaucratic delays, strengthen internal processes, and support the Federal Government’s broader ambition of building a digitally driven public sector.
He commended the Minister for his leadership, which he said contributed to Nigeria’s recent election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council and described the victory as a testament to the nation’s rising global maritime profile.
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He said the introduction of the ECMS would further reinforce Nigeria’s push toward modern, transparent and accountable public service delivery.
Speaking at the event, Oyetola described the unveiling of the ECMS as a significant step in Nigeria’s transition to a modern, technology-driven maritime administration.
He noted that digital transformation remains a central part of the Ministry’s strategy to strengthen port efficiency and rebuild Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
According to him, the theme of the launch, “Driving the Maritime and Blue Economy Sector through Digital Innovation,” highlights the urgency of embracing tools that improve speed, precision and regulatory performance.
He explained that although the ECMS is an internal workflow solution, its impact would extend across the sector by improving service delivery, reducing delays and enabling more predictable regulatory actions.
Oyetola also cited broader reforms underway in the maritime sector, including the clearing of the long-standing Apapa gridlock, the approval of a national port modernisation programme and the establishment of Inland Dry Ports across the six geopolitical zones to expand trade and economic inclusion.
On his part, Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving a fully digital and paperless administrative system by the end of 2025.
She commended the Shippers’ Council for aligning with the Presidential directive on digital records management, describing the ECMS as clear evidence of institutional readiness for the future of governance.
Earlier, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, said the ECMS represents a core pillar of the Council’s digitalisation agenda and a transformative step toward eliminating manual file movement and administrative bottlenecks.
He noted that the system would enhance accountability, improve internal speed, strengthen information security and deepen the Council’s capacity to deliver efficient regulatory services.
Akutah urged staff to fully integrate the platform into their operations, describing it as essential to sustaining a modern, paperless and performance-driven organisation.
