On Dec. 18, Grandiose Parlor discussed the official web portal — Nigeria Direct. See the post. It is interesting to read that the new Information Minister, Dora Akunyili, has picked up the discussion as reported by the Punch newspaper: “Nigeria’s official website shutdown”, Punch, Dec 25, where she “lamented the shutting down of the nation’s official website - www.nigeria.gov.ng”.
According to the newspaper, the Minister also finds “disheartening” that her ministry — the Ministry of Information and Communications does not have a website. This is interesting. I know there was a functioning website for the ministry in 2005, about the time Nigeria Direct was launched.
The Minister also mentioned the Nigerian Television Authority among the important information outlets lacking web presence. She added “every parastatal must have an active and vibrant website up and running before the end of March 2009″.
One of the Minster’s priorities can be gleaned from the news report: Ensuring that Nigeria is well represented on the web. Although this has become a matter of necessity in this media age; it’s really nothing to get excited about. I remember similar matching orders were given back in 2005. I know because a colleague made some proposals to build some of those websites (…of course, none were approved).
Any web manager would know creating a website is relatively easy. The devil is in the details — keeping it current and well maintained over time. Nigerian Direct was a multimillion dollar project, as we were told in 2005 , but where is it today?
The task ahead of the Minister shouldn’t be restricted to merely creating online information portal for the public, but it must includ how government websites are maintained once created. How will the Minster ensure sustainability? Would we be having this discussion again in 2011 when a new administration comes into office?
As the Minister’s order is being considered for execution, one challenge that must be addressed also is in ensuring a uniform web standard across all government-owned sites — not only in layout and color schemes, but in accessibility and functionality. I’m sure some readers have seen the supposedly “official” websites running advertisements, particularly Google Adsense. It may be of interest to the Minister that as I write, NAFDAC, her former portfolio, has one of such sites! The Minister may be curious to ask who pockets the money accrued from the ads.
There are several options available for the government to ensure information online are uniform, appropriate, adequate, accurate and prompt. But before the Minister even makes a determination, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the Federal Ministry of Finance website for some inspiration –the site meets many, if not all, the listed criteria. In addition, the Minister should ask each federal ministry and parastatal to disclose how much has been spent on web development in the last five years. I’m sure her jaw will drop…and who knows, she may even decide to shake the ministry a little.
Compliments of the season!
I maintain my stance that Dora Akinluyi will perform, step by step but forward only. Please all you experts should keep all ideas on how to better the information portals all over Nigeria coming. I am sure she will pick up useful tips and hints. Dora in her first week in office is picking up loopholes and deficiencies and acting on it. She must be given credit for this. This is much more than many other Nigerian Ministers have done. Let us all support Dora to succeed. Let us use her portfolio to advantage for Nigeria and let us hope she will be what Yaradua needs as a backbone until 2011 or when>>> ever. Let us wish and pray Nigeria gets a break for we are all well and truly fed up and God is our only hope. God works miracles, and as he worked the Abacha miracle God could do it again in Jesus name.
Happy New Year.
December 28, 2008 at 10:14 am
I have searched the web and all online sources to find a source for the information attributed to the Hon Minister that national portal has been shutdown for months - I have seen none nor any evidence that it ever was. Can you point me to this?
December 31, 2008 at 7:48 am
@ Chijioke - Follow the second link in the post. It will take you to the punch article where the Minister made the statement.
If you had the opportunity to visit the national portal in between 2005 and 2006, you would have seen the difference between its current state and then. Yes, the site is not really online, but it is not doing what is supposed to do as it is either.
December 31, 2008 at 2:03 pm
To see what Nigeria Direct looked like in December 2005, click on this link
December 31, 2008 at 7:23 pm
A website as important as a national portal should target 99.99% uptime - this is usually acheivable from a technical perspective given the hosting platform and connectivity infrastructure. There are bigger concerns however that make a site feasible. A website is a publishing house at the very minimum and every publisher needs the following: the EXECUTIVE COMMITMENT/SPONSORSHIP, INOFRMATION ACCESS, END-USER CAPABILITIES FOR SELF-PUBLISHING, INFORMATION/DATA FLOWS including approval/vetting processes.
Clearly, a departmental website such as Ministry of Finance has been able to obtain these - a national portal requires this across over 600 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the FG alone to meet the expectations of public!
January 1, 2009 at 4:05 am
PS. I use the portal regularly for updates to Federal Executive Council Resolutions, addresses, and speeches/statements from the Min of Information. At some time I even used it to research NTA, VON, FRCN news broadcasts! While it might not be up to date, I confess that I am not cynical enough to accept on the face of things an assertion that is so easy to confirm/refute.
My question originally was about the veracity of the information that “the site has been down for months” - once attributed to the Hon Minister it is assumed to be true. I know the workings of government somewhat as well as that of the press in Nigeria - facts are anything but SACRED unfortunately. Perhaps someone can access the web stats? Apologies.
January 1, 2009 at 4:16 am
News had it that Dora Akinluyi turned down a UNICEF position of honour to accept her Ministerial nomination. News also had it that she was hoping to become Health Minister but Obasanjo (ex president) has someone else in mind for the job and successfully influenced Yaradua, hence Dora was given the Information and Communication portfolio instead. Well I still pray that whatever position Dora has to work in, that she does well and never stain her good name Good people are difficult to come by.
Peace
January 5, 2009 at 10:31 am
I desperately hope something good happens as a result of this. I also hope that as Minister of Information, Dora can influence yardy and co. into realizing that information must be ‘free’ and that freedom of speech and ideas should be respected.
January 6, 2009 at 9:05 am
My very prayers solomonsydelle and hence my optimism about the appointment of ~Dora Akinluyi as Minister of Information and Communication. Regards.
January 6, 2009 at 8:43 pm
One of the greatest challenges ahead of Dora is how the Nigerian Legislature can have the Freedom of Information Bill passed. It has been discussed on several occasions in both houses, but nothing has happened yet.
January 7, 2009 at 10:01 am
PLS, CAN SOMEONE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO THE MINISTER OF COMM.JUST FOR THE PLIGHT OF NITEL STAFFS WHO HAVENT GOT THIER 7 MONTHS SALARIES.SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE STATE OF COMA AS I WOULD SAY,BECOS THET HAVE FAMILIES LOOKING FORWARDS FOR THEIR SURVIVER.PLS QUICKLY COME TO THIER AIMS BEFORE ANY BAD NEWS IS HEARD FORM THEM.MAY GOD BLESSED YOU MA.
February 16, 2009 at 2:31 am
@Amos, have you considered checking Dora Akunyili’s website. I believe she has one, maybe you can leave same message on it.
February 16, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Msg 4 information minister Mrs akunyuli
Much anticipated about rebrading of Nigeria and its society. though the slogan is going in the right direction, pls minister can you look inward to the NTA website and its content, tax payers money are being squander by nta workforce. The new website lack creativity, innovation up to date information the website consist of old message which will not do us any good and your message is nta should compete with CNN.
January 16, 2010 at 3:05 pm