FG To Unveil New Blueprint For ICT Sector Next Month

A new blueprint that will transform the Information and Communications Technology,ICT, industry into a new revenue earner for the country will be unveiled by the Federal Government in January, 2016.

Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, who disclosed this in Lagos, yesterday during a tour of Omatek Computers factory in Lagos, said that the blueprint would create a turnaround for the industry and make ICT a cash-cow for the economy.

He also disclosed that government had also decided to renew its commitment towards the local content policy, which has been in existence but its impact has not been felt in the economy noting that the present government is concern towards developing the Nigerian ICT industry.

According to him, government wants to put an end to the dependence on oil saying that during the retreat stakeholders will how to make more revenue from ICT urging banks to continue support small and medium scale enterprises in the sector.

He assured stakeholders that government would continue to encourage local investment in the ICT sector that the Ministry is will to collaborate in whatever way to enhance the growth of the sector in Nigeria. Shittu also hinted that a committee, whose membership will comprise public and private sectors’ stakeholders, would be set up to advise government on critical ICT issues that borders on national development.

The minister said that since he assumed office, he had been receiving briefs from some stakeholders in the industry which will form part of the inputs for the blueprint which will be crafted at a retreat planned for Kaduna before the launch of the blueprint in January.

He, however, said that the ministry will ensure policy continuity and that the National Broadband Policy will be considered among other issues as part of the new blueprint, On the lingering issues of unsolicited text messages and voice calls, he said that apart from the fact that Nigerian Communications Commission was already working on how to address the challenge, government was also determined to curb the industrywide menace.
The Minister commended the Founder and Managing Director, Omatek Computers, Mrs. Florence Seriki for her efforts in the development of the Nigeria ICT products brand, particularly the computers.

In her remarks, Seriki said that she wanted the government to adopt the stakeholders approach of public private sector partnership in tackling some of the problems confronting the industry.