The Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the implementation of the local content programme and the Executive Order on Local content

Shittu stated this at the weekend while addressing participants at the second Annual Local Content Roundtable and Technology fair at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

He said the Federal Government and the private sector service providers each has a critical role to play for the local content programme to succeed in Nigeria.

The minister stated emphatically that the government will provide guaranteed order and policies, and ensure those orders and policies are enforced to achieve the quality of products and services as well as their commensurate patronage by Nigerians.

“The ministry is totally committed to the implementation of the local content programme and the Executive Order 005 on Local Content. Local Content does not mean excluding foreign participation in our economy, rather, it means concerted and collaborative efforts by all players to build a strong indigenous economy,” he said.

To achieve the goals of promoting the local content, Shittu explained further that the “win-win” formula must play out so that the locally assembled computers must run on Microsoft Operating System (OS) and Intel processors.

He said the patronage of Local Contents has soared higher in the current administration more than ever before.

He said the Ministry of Communications through National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will soon issue directives to encourage MDAs to use emerging technologies and other platforms. He urged the MDAs to comply with the new guidelines in the procurement and utilisation of ICT infrastructure and services as issued by NITDA.

Shittu added that the Federal Government shall continue to sponsor initiatives that will attract local and international investments into the country, to boost its economic growth in the technology sector.