Ukeje, NdukweGutierrez, Jairo APetrova, KrassieOkolie, Ugochukwu Chinonso2025-08-042025-08-042025-07-23Future Internet, ISSN: 1999-5903 (Print); 1999-5903 (Online), MDPI AG, 17(8), 326-326. doi: 10.3390/fi170803261999-59031999-5903http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19634This study explores the challenges hindering the government’s adoption of cloud computing despite its benefits in improving services, reducing costs, and enhancing collaboration. Key barriers include information security, privacy, compliance, and perceived risks. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, the study conceptualises a model incorporating privacy, governance framework, performance expectancy, and information security as independent variables, with perceived risk as a moderator and government intention as the dependent variable. The study employs exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on survey data from 71 participants in Nigerian government organisations to validate the measurement scale for these factors. The analysis evaluates variable validity, factor relationships, and measurement reliability. Cronbach’s alpha values range from 0.807 to 0.950, confirming high reliability. Measurement items with a common variance above 0.40 were retained, explaining 70.079% of the total variance on the measurement items, demonstrating reliability and accuracy in evaluating the challenging factors. These findings establish a validated scale for assessing government cloud adoption challenges and highlight complex relationships among influencing factors. This study provides a reliable measurement scale and model for future research and policymakers on the government’s intention to adopt cloud services.© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/46 Information and Computing Sciences4609 Information SystemsClinical Research8.4 Research design and methodologies (health services)8.1 Organisation and delivery of servicesGeneric health relevance46 Information and computing sciencesJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.3390/fi17080326