From Moshood Karim
The Edo State Government is now in the process of overhauling a website developed under the previous administration, after it was revealed that a staggering ₦200 million was paid to inexperienced IT consultants for a project that has failed to meet even the most basic standards of functionality and security.
An investigation into the development of the website has uncovered that the past government contracted consultants to create the State’s online presence using WordPress – a content management system typically used for simple blogs or small websites – and its associated plug-ins. This approach, which is far from the cutting-edge technology one would expect from a project of this scale, has left the website unstable, vulnerable to cyber threats, and unfit for any professional use.
The use of various plug-ins in the website’s construction resulted in numerous technical issues, rendering the platform unreliable and riddled with security flaws. As a consequence, the new administration is now faced with the task of repairing over 160 government websites belonging to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), all of which were similarly left exposed to potential security breaches.
This oversight is not just a technical failure but a stark warning about the mismanagement of public ICT projects. In response, the current government has vowed to take control of its digital infrastructure, with plans to centralise operations under the state’s ICT Agency. There will be strict new policies in place to prevent private contractors from monopolising access to critical digital resources, ensuring that sensitive government data is not left in the hands of unaccountable third-party consultants.
The Okpebholo administration is taking immediate steps to rectify this embarrassing situation, with a clear commitment to providing the people of Edo State with a secure, stable, and user-friendly digital experience. In the spirit of transparency, the government has made it a priority to inform the public of these findings and the steps being taken to protect the state’s digital future.
This costly and avoidable blunder serves as a wake-up call for all public sector ICT projects across the country, underscoring the importance of accountability, expertise, and long-term planning in managing taxpayers’ money.
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