HP,LG And Samsung To Lose As FG Enforces Ban On Foreign Computers



Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, LG and other foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will lose their grip on Nigeria’s Personal Computer (PC) market as the Federal Government yesterday finally moved to enforce a comprehensive ban on foreign computers and technology products in public institutions, including schools.

The aim of the ban is to encourage patronage of ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ products and foster growth in the local Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

Cleopas Anganye, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) made this declaration on Tuesday, at a two-day retreat on draft guidelines for home grown IT hardware products.

Stressing the importance of benchmarking Nigeria’s IT products against international standards in order to make them competitive and marketable globally, Angaye further declared that the procurement by public institutions, of non made-in-Nigeria computers, where certified local brands exist, would be an offence punishable by a prison term and fine, under the NITDA Act.

Industry analysts told Business Day yesterday that Nigeria’s computer hardware market has remained underdeveloped due to poor policy formulation and implementation by government, as well as the attendant high cost of equipment acquisition in Nigeria.

According to the analysts, inspite of the growing number of local OEMs and resellers, and the significant growth recorded in the telecommunications industry after the sector was deregulated in 2001; PC penetration remains very low at 7 per 1, 000 Nigerians.

Angaye noted that the Federal Government’s accreditation of computer assembly plants had expired. This, he added, called for the development of new standards for computer manufacturing in the country. After the conclusion of the retreat and subsequent issuance of the new guidelines, the NITDA boss explained, it would be regarded as economic sabotage if Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) did not patronise Nigerian IT products.

Angaye, represented at the retreat by director, standards and regulation, NITDA, Inye Kemabonta, said the IT implementing agency would in the next fortnight, launch a monitoring scheme to ensure compliance by all public institutions across Nigeria.

According to NITDA, under its enabling laws, three key actions would be offences punishable by prison terms, fines or both, if flouted in the emerging dispensation.

First, the public procurement of non made-in-Nigeria computers and IT products where certified local brands exist, is an offence. Secondly, the display and use of non made-in-Nigeria computers in government offices and for government business, where certified local brands are available, is also an offence punishable by law. Lastly, use of non made-in-Nigeria computers in public schools at all levels is likewise an offence.

In the same vein, Chris Uwaje, president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) enjoined government to provide the enabling environment for indigenous computer manufacturers to thrive.

Angaye further added, “To benefit from this policy, multinational companies are invited to set up production or assembly plants in Nigeria.

According to him, with more than half the population of West Africa, Nigeria has a large enough market to justify foreign direct investment in IT. “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.

“Use of non made-in-Nigeria computers in public schools at all levels. NITDA will seek the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that the accreditation of schools and renewal of accreditation will depend partly on the establishment of Information Technology labs equipped with locally manufactured IT products”, Angaye concluded.

Local computer manufacturers at the retreat expressed confidence in government’s renewed efforts to develop the IT industry, create employment through local assembly of computers and build the capacity of Nigerian IT entrepreneurs.

“I do not see any reason why our people shy away from locally made PCs. If you open a locally made PCs and other foreign brands, you will find the same components in all of them. We all buy from the same component manufacturer.

If given a chance, we can compete favourably with the foreign brands. We already have the policies on ground that support usage of locally made computers. I think the fundamental issue militating against the development of the industry is implementation of these policies”, Tunde Balogun, president of the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) said

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/37800-hp-lg-to-lose-as-fg-enforces-ban-on-foreign-computers

But they should realize that computer is not rice, sugar or gaari o!

Na today? conduct search in Aso Rock and see if they practice what they preach.

Fresh air

WTF!!! i better go and get ma HP DV7-6163cl before things get out of hands

Oya, oga Zinox, the coast is clear o! If you're a sharp guy, this is your chance to hammer seriously.

But hey! Good thing they're not banning that badazz ASUS Republic Of Gamers laptop.
I better get it before they change their minds tho'!

ed!ots,

just make Nigeria a manufacturing hub for these companies for instance to serve the African region. Provide infrastructure and a good investment atmosphere. That way, the technologies will be diffused into Nigerians naturally and they will pick things up from there.

Where does this govt get advise?

Zinox with their overpriced junk laptops.

Though the policy is right buh this is not the best time for that kinda move.. Just Another stupiid quick move by the govt.. Do we have enough ICT companies to engage in such ban... Even zinox still sucks... I wonder what dis people are thinking *smh*

wondering when they are guna ban toyota and honda for innoson.. Stupiid people

amblors: Zinox with their overpriced junk laptops.

imagine

FG has been settle by Local manufacturers of IT equipments.... we shall see if this will stand the test of time.

Misplaced priority. You want to ban what you ve not started. What happens to our textile industry, has dat been revived or do u think pc is garri or fufu?.

I wonder sometimes why those who formulate policies don't do the right research before embarking on putting forward useless statement.
Everyone knows that those who will violate this are those in government.

since the fg no dey do work, no biggie

will this ban extend to all the IT equipment in the govt bloated budgets?

HENHEN

amosy007: Though the policy is right buh this is not the best time for that kinda move.. Just Another stupiid quick move by the govt.. Do we have enough ICT companies to engage in such ban... Even zinox still sucks... I wonder what dis people are thinking *smh*

wondering when they are guna ban toyota and honda for innoson.. Stupiid people

Brother, its a very complimentary move.. The nation is tearing apart, job needs to be created or there will be a revolution in 2015 that could devour ( swallow ) all the corrupt leaders in the past and present. You most have noticed that all Nigerians are waiting anxiously to know their faith as a nation come 2015. One thing I know is certain come 2015 that will change Nigeria for good. It's either we breakup (good) or we elect the best candidate to clean up the mess that started 51 years ago ( also good ).

But naija go change 2015

rubbishhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

God abeg which kain country dem born me inside self?
I bet when Obama, Merkel, Cameron and other world leaders want to relax, Nigeria is usually at the center of all their jokes..

www.sforeverconsult.com
:Nigerian IT companies can't meet the production demand of computers for Nigerians.It is a good idea by the government but should be postponed till when local content can meet demand to prevent inflation.

www.sforeverconsult.com :Nigerian IT companies can't meet the production demand of computers for Nigerians.It is a good idea by the government but should be postponed till when local content can meet demand to prevent inflation.

I must confess, I am really tired of the God forsaken country. We are not in China nah!!!! Ebele wake up and stop acting like an Impotent or this one again you got the suggestion on Facebook

I cannot buy any Nigerian made laptop because

1. I will never pay much and expect less.
2. Kindly check the grades of the chispet of nigerian made laptops, always substandard and can blow anytime.

GOD PURNISH ALL OF UNA FOR ASK ROCK

Instead of them to ban generators and make light available 24/7!!! *hiss*

amosy007: Though the policy is right buh this is not the best time for that kinda move.. Just Another stupiid quick move by the govt.. Do we have enough ICT companies to engage in such ban... Even zinox still sucks... I wonder what dis people are thinking *smh*

wondering when they are guna ban toyota and honda for innoson.. Stupiid people

.
You guys must have missed the part in the report that stated that the ban is specifically for PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS aka Government institutions

This is a GREAT good move.
There are knowledgeable People in Nigeria that can not just couple but come with excellent designs to Manufacture Good Products.
Look at JayJay Okocha, this Man is an INVENTOR when it comes to The Art Of Dribbling In Football.
There people like him at all Levels Profession in our Country.
I have an Uncle invented His own Incubator and Genotype Machine.
I know a Guy in Lagos who invented The First Ever Power Boost For Tiger Small Generator.
So it is time we make these people rise.

Soon computers would become items that would be smuggled into the country and the prices would hit the roof. This is one policy that was not clearly thought out. As usual the poor masses will suffer for it as the big shots will never patronise local companies that couple computers. Zinox manufactures nothing but couples systems just as some smart alec does in otigba. Make we hear word

[quote]Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, LG and other foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will lose their grip on Nigeria’s Personal Computer (PC) market as the Federal Government yesterday finally moved to enforce a comprehensive ban on foreign computers and technology products in public institutions, including schools.[/quote

Going by the above.. it seems private institutions are exempted from their so called comprehensive ban!

darediamond: This is a GREAT good move.
There are knowledgeable People in Nigeria that can not just couple but come with excellent designs to Manufacture Good Products.
Look at JayJay Okocha, this Man is an INVENTOR when it comes to The Art Of Dribbling In Football.
There people like him at all Levels Profession in our Country.
I have an Uncle invented His own Incubator and Genotype Machine.
I know a Guy in Lagos who invented The First Ever Power Boost For Tiger Small Generator.
So it is time we make these people rise.

cant tell if serious or trolling. anyways, another (not surprising) dumb move by a dumb government!

It is for government institutions and not private or personal oooo. They are not banning the importation of these items into the country but their deployment in public institutions.

Great news - now CHINA can roll-in millions of dirt-cheap Chinese parts and accessories that our Alaba and Ariaria brothers can couple and sell to large organisations every other 3 weeks because they are designed to fail every other three weeks. the Zinox Komputa had to be rebooted so many times to get the Opensource OS to recognize finger-prints alone - the face na anotehr matter altogether.

I think they should take it a step further and Ban Microsoft, Oracle and IBM Application/Software platforms so that Otigba can release their latest Ijebu-based MAC-OSX-WIndows-8 Hybrid OS to the market..