FG links success in counter-insurgency, anti-graft crusade to ICT

The Federal Government has said it succeeded in its counter-insurgency war and anti-graft campaign because of its use of Information and Communication Technology.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, disclosed this known yesterday in Abuja at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei Technologies. Lawal added that these gains cannot be over-emphasized.

The SGF said the Federal Government has leveraged on ICT to tackle economic saboteurs, who fleece the country of billions of naira.Lawal said President Muhammadu Buhari would not have been able to achieve the lofty objectives of his administration, especially in his war against corruption, insecurity and onslaught against other negative vices, without ICT. “It has been a major tool in identifying saboteurs in the government.”

“Several heads of government agencies had emphasized the positive effect of deploying ICT in management of government business, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has arrested and prosecuting many suspected fraudsters, using the ICT tools, the collaboration between the federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, where more than 35,000 ghost workers were uncovered, among many others.

Lawal revealed that the Chinese company would train a group of young Nigerian technicians in China for two weeks at no expense of the youths or government. He also commended the company for establishing this ICT training programme.

The Charge D’ Affairs of the Chinese Embassy, Qin Jian, said China’s stock investment portfolio in Nigeria so far has exceeded $12billion, with the trade volume between both countries remarkably deepened at $14.9 million.

The Managing Director of Huawei in Abuja, Li Teng, said though this is the first time they would be organising the programme for Nigerians, the purpose of the two weeks program is to nurture promising ICT professionals in every country.

Teng revealed that the programme would enhance knowledge transfer, promote greater understanding in the telecommunication sector and encourage regional building and participation in the digital community.