The Federal Government has banned the purchase of foreign computers and technology products in public institutions and schools to encourage patronage of “Made-in-Nigeria” products and foster growth in the local ICT industry.
Local IT experts and manufactures say they are being driven out of business because of non-patronage from government agencies.
Director-General, Na-tional Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Professor Cleopas Angaye, yesterday told attendees at a two-day Retreat on Draft Guidelines for Made-in-Nigeria IT hardware products in Lagos that the implementation of the local patronage scheme is to foster growth of the local ICT sector.
Angaye, represented at the retreat by Director, Standards and Regulation, NITDA, Inye Kemabonta, said the agency would in the next two weeks launch a monitoring scheme to ensure compliance by all public institutions across Nigeria.
According to NITDA, purchase of foreign made IT products and computers is an offence punishable by a prison term, fine or both if flouted in the emerging dispensation by the agency to foster patronage of local ICT products and services.
“It will now be punishable for public procurement of non-made-in-Nigeria computers and IT products where certified local brands exist. Public funds should only be expended on locally manufactured products,” the NITDA DG said.
Angaye adds that, “to benefit from this policy, multinational companies are invited to set up production or assembly plants in Nigeria.
“With more than half the population of West Africa, Nigeria has a large market to justify foreign direct investment in Information Technology.
“Instead, one finds that all the multinational firms operate only marketing and sales promotion offices. The transformation of Nigeria into a developed economy cannot be achieved by being a consumer nation.”