Petroleum ministry goes digital, to boosts transparency, policy continuity

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has formally transitioned to a fully digitised records and workflow system, a move expected to enhance transparency, efficiency and long-term policy sustainability in Nigeria’s critical oil and gas sector.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this following the Ministry’s successful deployment of the Enterprise Content Management, ECM, System, a flagship digital governance initiative of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Lokpobiri described the development as a significant institutional reform with direct implications for governance quality and economic resilience.

“By digitising the management of information, data, and governance processes, the ECM will enhance transparency, speed, and collaboration across our workflows, while reducing duplication and losses associated with manual systems,” the Minister said.

He noted that the adoption of the ECM system would strengthen policy implementation and continuity in the petroleum sector, which remains central to Nigeria’s fiscal stability and economic growth.

“These gains will strengthen the sustainability of government policies and programmes as we build a more resilient and prosperous economy that benefits every part of our nation,” Lokpobiri stated.

The Minister linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader public sector reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the digitisation drive as evidence of a deliberate shift toward a modern, accountable Nigerian state.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is truly driving the modern Nigeria we are building,” he said, while commending the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Wason-Jack, for championing the programme.

“This initiative complements the Renewed Hope agenda for a progressive future.”

Lokpobiri stressed that as a core revenue and policy driver for the country, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources must lead by example in institutional transparency and governance reforms.

“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources remains a critical pillar for national development, and we must consistently project and promote policies that ensure continuity, accountability, and long-term sustainability across the system,” he added.