The certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria, (CCMON) has raised alarm over what it called the deployment of fake SPEEDSTAR Computers in the country, labelling this an economic sabotage on the nation especially the government’s renewed hope agenda.
Platforms Africa reports that CCMON raised this alarm in a Petition to the National Information Development Agency (NITDA), alleging that the products were being deployed by NITAD contractors.
The letter to NITDA jointly signed by its President, Engr. Adenike Abudu and its Secretary General, Tosin Ilesanmi, condemned the counterfeiting of SPEEDSTAR PCs, arguing that the development was a national embarrassment to all stakeholders in the Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
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Noting that the Nigerian IT regulator, NITDA, should address the matter with urgency, the letter reads in part, “One of our members, BETA Computers have reported the counterfeiting of her SPEEDSTAR brand PC to your good offices since August 24, 2024.
“They informed Cjustiexecutive that nothing has been done to identify and bring the culprits to justice and that they
now want to explore the option of the court of public opinion and the judiciary.”
CCMON in their letter stated that “We note that that this is not the first time our members have complained about counterfeits of their devices. However, this is the first time we have credible
and actionable evidence that supporting BETA to pursue to the local conclusion brings desirable benefits to all CCMON members. Indeed, we in CCMON believes that this effort will benefit NITDA even more as her efforts at the development of quality local content in IT will be
strengthened, lauded and seen as sustainable.”
CCMON in the letter commended the Nigerian IT regulator for its continued support and
commitment to the growth of local content in IT, adding that the local PCs if well deployed by all government agencies will create more jobs for the local economy.
The former president of the Information Technology Association of Nigerian, ITAN, Mr. Will Anyaegbunam who is also the Managing Director of Beta Computers said that the deployment of fake PCs by the industry IT regulator was killing local OEMs capacities to grow as expected.
According to Anyaegbunam who is a CCMON BOT member, critical stakeholders are now been
forced to ask questions as to where is Nigeria first project in ICT? Who is frustrating IT growth and development in Nigeria? Who is promoting local content in ICT? Whose agenda is NITDA really pursuing? Who are the faking cabals that NITDA seems to be protecting?
He went further to state “It appears that NITDA is not taking this faking issue as seriously as it demands for reasons yet to be fully understood. Perhaps, she has not fully understood that Piracy is a serious economic crime and sabotage of the president’s economic policies anchored
on the Renewed Hope Agenda. Not only does it kill local capacity that she is supposed to be growing, it discourages foreign direct investment and inflicts massive damage to the reputation and fortunes of local manufacturers who have been unjustly hounded with poor quality tags for
so long.
This case presents an auspicious opportunity that NITDA should take to unveil the possible syndicate behind this dastardly crime and bring them to justice for their criminality towards dousing speculations rife among critical stakeholders that they may have something
they are trying to hide.”
Anyaegbunam warned that unless the Nigerian ICT industry regulator, NITDA promotes local capacities, the country’s quest for global competitiveness in Technology development.
Platforms Africa
