by Chi Ibe

The Federal government has created a gateway to all government information allowing Nigerians for the first time to view and engage any desired Agency of Government at the click of a button.

Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson at the Social Media Week in Lagos entitled ‘’Showcase: Technology in Governance’’ said that the aim of the National Portal launching next month was to create a single point of entry for Nigerians to access government information and services online.

The National Portal, an initiative of the Ministry of Communication Technology in collaboration with the Ministry of Information is to create with the latest technology with more intuitive domain names (finance instead of fmf, environment instead of Fme)that makes it easier for citizens to view what they want from a single window, Johnson said.

According to reports, she added that a government Call Center with vanity number ‘’0700 CALL GOV’’ is set for launch in April.

The Vanguard reports:

Reiterating the role of the new Ministry of Communication Technology, Johnson stressed that the creation of the Ministry resulted in a better focus on the ICT industry and egovernance. She added that though egovernance was already happening, but in silos. Government had publish and inform websites of 420 MDAs (not standard, not updated regularly).

Nigerians according to her could get Customs HS Codes, NIPOST post codes, transact websites by Immigration for passport issuance, register for exams and check exam results online (JAMB). But the National portal will have a single window will have all that and more.

In a related development, Mrs Johnson has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National ICT Incubation Programme tagged IDEA( ’Information Technology Developer Entrepreneurship Accelerator)

The programme has a mandate to support Nigerian ICT Entrepreneurs to create successful businesses that will have global impact. The programme will offer support to promising ICT entrepreneurs through ICT incubation centres established in a selected number of cities with the first two located in Tinapa and Cross Rivers state.

Members of the Governing council inaugurated include Mr Adedotun Suleiman of Arian Capital, Pius Okigbo Jr of Infosoft, Osayi Alile Oruene of Fate Foundation, John Obaro of Systems Spec, Teemu Kiijarvi of Nokia, Wiebe Boer of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Juliet Anammah of Accenture, Mohammed Balarabe of Fidelity Bank, Vincent Olatunji of NITDA and Aristotle Onumo also of NITDA