The Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON) has raised alarm over the deployment of fake SpeedStar Computers by the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) contractors, saying it is economic sabotage on the nation, especially the government’s renewed hope agenda.

CCMON, in a letter to NITDA jointly signed by its President, Adenike Abudu and its Secretary General, Tosin Ilesanmi, respectively, while condemning the counterfeiting of SPEEDSTAR PCs, said that the development was a national embarrassment to all stakeholders in the Nigerian technology ecosystem.

Noting that the Nigerian IT regulator, NITDA, should address the matter with urgency, the letter reads in part, “One of our members, BETA Computers, has reported the counterfeiting of her SPEEDSTAR brand PC to your good offices since August 24, 2024. They informed CCMON executives 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.”

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CCMON, in their letter, stated that “We note 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 supports BETA to pursue the local conclusion, bringing desirable benefits to all CCMON members. Indeed, we in CCMON believe 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 Nigeria, ITAN, 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 being forced to ask questions as to where Nigeria’s first project in ICT is. Who is frustrating IT growth and development in Nigeria? Who is promoting local content in ICT?  Whose agenda is NITDA pursuing? Who are the faking cabals that NITDA seems to be protecting?

But reacting to the development, a senior official at NITDA, who preferred anonymity, said the investigation is still ongoing on the issue and that there is no official statement yet.

The official, however, disclosed that the project was actually in 2019 and that the CCMON body was at NITDA two weeks ago for a meeting on the issue.

The official disclosed that in 2019, NITDA directed all contractors to patronise local content, “And that’s what the contractor did in that year.”