CANI: FG may mandate local factories for IBM, HP
Jonah Iboma
Nigeria may soon see the establishment of computers assembly firms by leading international IT brands in the country if plans by the Federal Government are anything to go by.
Director General of the Agency, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said that government was considering asking HP and IBM, to set up local assembly plants as pre-condition for them to get orders under the its Computer for All Nigerians Initiative.
CANI is a government-sponsored scheme to promote computer penetration by a special arrangement that would allow people to own computers and pay over a period between three and 24 months.
Speaking on Saturday in Lagos during the inspection of local assembly plants involved in the scheme namely, Brian Integrated systems Limited, Omatek Computer, Speedstar Computers and Zinox Technologies, Angaye said government was interested in taking the step in order to promote the growth of the local technology industry.
Citing similar examples in India and China, the DG noted that these countries often make the local presence as a precondition for multinationals to operate and distribute their goods adding that there was no reason for this not to happen in Nigeria. He added that such a step would also create jobs for locals and benefit the economy in general
Anagaye also explained that NITDA was reviewing the current operations of those involved in the scheme with the aim of ensuring that the benefits were delivered to Nigerians. One of the issues he said would be reviewed is the involvement of the Project Management Office currently overseen by the AMB Multiserve.
According to him, the agency, based on complaints from various quarters had decided to call the PMO to order and would examine all its earlier actions with the aim of resolving any problems that have arisen from them.
Angaye stated that government was interested in the success of the scheme, a position he explained, necessitated his inspection of the factories of the four original equipment manufacturers in Lagos. He added that government was interested in ensuring that the quality of locally produced computers met international standards and that people buying them would not have reason to complain.
Under the first stage, government had already ordered 14,500 computers that would be supplied by Zinox and Omatek.
Angaye requested the OEMs to ensure that they set up functional help desks that an be accessed by internet and through telephone.
Nigeria may soon see the establishment of computers assembly firms by leading international IT brands in the country if plans by the Federal Government are anything to go by.
Director General of the Agency, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said that government was considering asking HP and IBM, to set up local assembly plants as pre-condition for them to get orders under the its Computer for All Nigerians Initiative.
CANI is a government-sponsored scheme to promote computer penetration by a special arrangement that would allow people to own computers and pay over a period between three and 24 months.
Speaking on Saturday in Lagos during the inspection of local assembly plants involved in the scheme namely, Brian Integrated systems Limited, Omatek Computer, Speedstar Computers and Zinox Technologies, Angaye said government was interested in taking the step in order to promote the growth of the local technology industry.
Citing similar examples in India and China, the DG noted that these countries often make the local presence as a precondition for multinationals to operate and distribute their goods adding that there was no reason for this not to happen in Nigeria. He added that such a step would also create jobs for locals and benefit the economy in general
Anagaye also explained that NITDA was reviewing the current operations of those involved in the scheme with the aim of ensuring that the benefits were delivered to Nigerians. One of the issues he said would be reviewed is the involvement of the Project Management Office currently overseen by the AMB Multiserve.
According to him, the agency, based on complaints from various quarters had decided to call the PMO to order and would examine all its earlier actions with the aim of resolving any problems that have arisen from them.
Angaye stated that government was interested in the success of the scheme, a position he explained, necessitated his inspection of the factories of the four original equipment manufacturers in Lagos. He added that government was interested in ensuring that the quality of locally produced computers met international standards and that people buying them would not have reason to complain.
Under the first stage, government had already ordered 14,500 computers that would be supplied by Zinox and Omatek.
Angaye requested the OEMs to ensure that they set up functional help desks that an be accessed by internet and through telephone.
Comments