The Local Content policy of the Federal Government on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would reduce the importation of ICT software into the country, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Isah Ibrahim, stated this in Abuja at the 2017 international Day of girls in ICT organized by Veritrax Solutions.
Ibrahim, who was represented by Assistant Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, Engr. Salisu Kaka, said the agency has made it compulsory for contractors to ensure that at least the computer systems they buy are from local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Nigeria.
He said: “In 2013 there was the local content policy passed by the federal government on ICT and NITDA being the regulator has quickly established office of the national content on ICT (ONC).
“This office is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that at least 30 per cent of whatever we consume locally or within the country there is local component of it, that is from the hardware to the software aspect of it.
“We made it compulsory for contractors to ensure that at least the computer systems they buy are from our local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).”
He said the agency has created the enabling environment that would allow genderless communities at different levels to have equal opportunities in terms of digital divide.