EDO: Gov Okpebholo orders urgent review of e-governance platform over data breach

This directive was issued in a “Government Special Announcement” dated November 25, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor.

The review is deemed necessary due to the alarming discovery that the entire e-governance platform is being managed by unidentified non-state actors, with no one in the Edo State Public Service having administrative control.

The statement clarifies that while officials and staff from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies will continue to use the e-governance platform during the review, reports circulating on social media claiming that the government has shut down the platform are false.

“The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to a report making the rounds that the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration has shut down the e-governance platform initiated by the previous administration. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It has been noted that the platform’s backend operations are controlled by unknown non-state actors, posing a significant data security risk and leaving the state’s governance vulnerable to external influences. Consequently, an urgent review of the system is warranted.

To address this critical issue, Governor Okpebholo has ordered a comprehensive review of the e-governance platform to ensure that the Edo State government reclaims full administrative control and restores the institutional memory that the current system lacks.

During the review process, all officials and staff from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies are instructed to continue their work on the e-governance platform.