NNPC, CBN, Customs, 220 other MDAs lag in FG’s website ranking – Report

The Federal Government has officially released the 2024/2025 Scorecard ranking the websites of 235 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), revealing that while some institutions have embraced digital reforms, several critical agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Defence, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), lag far behind. The scorecard, unveiled […]

The Federal Government has officially released the 2024/2025 Scorecard ranking the websites of 235 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), revealing that while some institutions have embraced digital reforms, several critical agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Defence, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), lag far behind.

The scorecard, unveiled on Monday at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium, Abuja, was organized by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in collaboration with the membership of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) drawn from different MDAs.

Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), read the results during the event, emphasizing that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to openness, transparency, and citizen engagement.

Director-General of BPSR, Mr Dasuki I. Arabi, in his address, said the scorecard exercise had become a crucial tool for institutionalising transparency and improving citizens’ access to government information.

“I am pleased to welcome you all to this historic release,” Arabi said, adding, “The scorecard, developed over six years, is gradually gaining traction across MDAs, reflecting our public institutions’ readiness to embrace reforms and align with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on improving governance for effective service delivery.”

Arabi highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for digital innovation, exposing weaknesses in service delivery and public sector efficiency.

“As the engine room of governance, the public service must deploy technological innovations and standardised websites to deliver services and meet citizens’ needs,” he said.

The DG explained that the scorecard is part of BPSR’s broader mandate, including research on reform implementation and presenting best-practice models to MDAs. “It is also an important index for the National e-Government Masterplan, designed to improve access to government information, facilitate seamless financial transactions, curb corruption and cybercrime, and enhance service delivery,” he said.

Arabi further noted that the ranking process involved a rigorous peer-review mechanism, with a jury drawn from inter-ministerial agencies and subjected to quality assurance checks to validate the outcomes.

He commended MDAs that performed well, urging others to adopt proactive approaches to digital compliance.

 

Agencies That Lag in Digital Compliance

Kana, reading the official results, announced that Galaxy Backbone topped the ranking with a score of 49.00, followed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board with 48.00, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council with 47.00.

However, the exercise also revealed serious gaps in digital compliance among some of the nation’s most critical institutions.

Key agencies that fell behind include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Defence, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.). Over 220 other MDAs also scored poorly, with outdated websites and limited digital functionality.

The assessment cut across sectors including finance, oil and gas, transport, security, health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and social services.

In transport and infrastructure, agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) were evaluated, with many showing weak online presence.

In the oil and energy sector, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) failed to meet the required standard.

Security-related agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Department of State Services (DSS) also lagged in website compliance.

Arabi stressed that such gaps undermine public confidence, especially amid ongoing security challenges.

In the health and education sectors, agencies such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIS), Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Universities Commission (NUC), and major teaching hospitals showed poor digital integration.

Agriculture-related MDAs, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), and the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), also fell below expectations, raising concerns about service delivery to farmers and implications for food security.

He highlighted that even agencies mandated to ensure transparency and governance integrity, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), performed poorly in providing accessible and functional digital platforms.

“While some agencies have embraced digital reforms, the report shows that the majority still have outdated, non-standardised websites that limit public access to critical information,” Abubakar said.

The reading also highlighted the performance of other MDAs, including the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State House, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Citizens and Leadership Training Center.

Despite these gaps, Arabi noted that the exercise provides an opportunity for MDAs to identify weaknesses and improve compliance. “The peer-review process and rigorous ranking criteria are designed to support continuous improvement and ensure that websites meet global standards,” he said.

 

SGF: Exercise Not to Shame MDAs

Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that the release of the scorecard is not intended to shame any MDA but to encourage reforms and strengthen digital governance.

“Arising from previous assessments, the current result reveals significant improvements in functionality and compliance levels across MDAs,” he said.

 

 

 

“This exercise is not designed to name and shame any MDA, rather it is to guide institutions to enhance the integrity of their websites and adopt global best practices.”

 

 

 

He urged MDAs to take the findings seriously and use them as a benchmark to improve accessibility, information disclosure, and public engagement.

 

 

 

“Sustained collaboration among MDAs is required to strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance framework. We must continue to work together towards a more transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric government,” he added.

 

 

 

Arabi, speaking at the event, reiterated the importance of embracing digital reforms as a necessity for national development.

 

 

 

“Transparency is not a luxury but a core requirement for effective governance. We will continue to work with MDAs to mainstream openness, accountability, and efficient service delivery,” he said.

 

 

 

Galaxy Backbone CEO, Prof Ibrahim Adeyanju, congratulated top-ranking agencies, noting that the rankings reflected a shared effort to enable digital government. “Our mandate is to provide high-speed internet, secure data centres, and cloud services to support government operations. The performance of MDA websites is a reflection of this shared success,” he said.

 

 

 

The 2024/2025 scorecard demonstrates that while top-performing agencies such as Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council set the standard, the majority of Nigeria’s public institutions, particularly those controlling finances, security, and critical services, must urgently upgrade their digital platforms to meet global standards and citizens’ expectations.

 

 

 

For citizens, the findings are a stark reminder of the digital divide within government institutions. Analysts warn that outdated websites, poor functionality, and limited information disclosure could hinder service delivery, compromise accountability, and undermine trust in public institutions.