SystemSpecs director seeks harmony in Nigerian local content policies

AMIDST THE CLAMOUR for increased indigenous participation across all sectors of the Nigerian economy beyond the oil and gas industry, African technology giant, SystemSpecs, has called for the harmonisation of local content policies across all sectors.

Deremi Atanda, SystemSpecs director, stated this at the 10th Practical Nigerian Content Conference hosted by the National Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) virtually and on site in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

Experts had also emphasised the role of a strong and pragmatic local content policy in value creation. While the idea of local conNigeria tent policy originated from the oil and gas industry, there have been calls for its application across the economy.

In 2014, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) released guidelines on Nigerian content development in ICT. The policy seeks to achieve a target of 50 percent local content in the industry and requires all ICT companies to register Nigerian entities with predominant Nigerian representation.

While commending the NCDMB for providing the basis for the Local Content Act, Atanda highlighted the numerous opportunities it presents, including extending skills for indigenous players to compete beyond the country’s shores as the African continent is becoming an economic bloc with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“Another area of benefit is in building capacity to attract foreign earnings and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Nigeria as more indigenous firms will upscale capacity and export innovations.