Nigeria’s leading digital infrastructure agency, Galaxy Backbone (GBB), has announced new strategies aimed at strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem and positioning Nigeria to compete globally in an era driven by artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, cloud computing and other emerging innovations.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, disclosed this during a press conference held in Abuja to unveil activities marking the organisation’s 20th anniversary celebration.
According to him, Galaxy Backbone has transformed significantly since its establishment in 2006. What started as a government connectivity provider has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most important digital infrastructure institutions, playing a vital role in supporting government operations and national digital development.
Galaxy Backbone was created by the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide a unified Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), while also supporting private sector organizations with digital solutions.
Reflecting on the agency’s achievements over the last two decades, Adeyanju said Galaxy Backbone has invested heavily in world-class data centre infrastructure. These facilities include internationally certified Tier III and Tier IV data centres designed to provide secure, reliable and resilient environments for hosting critical government applications and digital systems.
He explained that the data centres help strengthen Nigeria’s data sovereignty by ensuring that important national information remains secure within the country. The facilities also improve business continuity and safeguard critical digital assets from disruptions.
Adeyanju further highlighted the agency’s cloud computing initiatives, particularly the 1Government Cloud platform, which enables government institutions to access scalable digital services without the need to build and maintain expensive infrastructure independently.
According to him, the shared-services model reduces operational costs, improves efficiency and accelerates innovation across public institutions.
Over the years, Galaxy Backbone has also developed several digital solutions, including GovMail, Nigeria’s official government email platform, as well as collaboration tools, hosting services, connectivity solutions and shared applications. These services support thousands of civil servants and hundreds of government institutions daily.
The CEO noted that the organisation’s success should not only be measured by the number of data centres or kilometres of fibre optic cables deployed, but by the positive impact these investments have created across government operations and the wider digital economy.
He revealed that Galaxy Backbone’s fibre optic network currently spans nearly 30 states across Nigeria, connecting government institutions and laying the foundation for a more efficient digital government system. He added that plans are underway to extend coverage to the remaining states and underserved areas of the country.
Cybersecurity remains another major area of focus for the agency. Adeyanju stated that Galaxy Backbone has significantly strengthened its cybersecurity infrastructure to protect government systems and critical national digital assets from cyber threats.
He said the agency operates a top-tier, multi-layered Cybersecurity Operations Centre capable of detecting and responding to threats effectively. According to him, despite increasing cyberattack attempts globally, the agency has successfully protected its systems from breaches.
To further enhance digital security, Galaxy Backbone works closely with several government agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Ibrahim Sani Mohammed, said Galaxy Backbone has created significant value within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and has contributed to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through its technology-driven services.
Similarly, Executive Director of Customer Centrality and Marketing, Olusegun Olulade, described customers as key partners in the organisation’s 20-year journey. He noted that Galaxy Backbone remains committed to improving customer satisfaction and building greater trust as it continues to expand its services and strengthen Nigeria’s digital future.
