The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said it is committed to the growth and development of indigenous operators in the country.
  
Central to boosting Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign technology is the enforcement of its Guidelines on Nigerian Content Development in ICT, which mandate that technology companies operating in Nigeria must ensure that at least 50 per cent of their services and operations are locally sourced. This includes employing Nigerian professionals, hosting websites on .ng domains, and prioritising indigenous suppliers.
  
NITDA, while officially responding to allegations of encouraging the deployment of fake local Personal Computers brought against it by the Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON), to further protect local interests, NITDA says it restricts registration for government IT contracts to companies with a minimum of 51 per cent Nigerian ownership.   
  
This policy effectively limits foreign firms from accessing public sector opportunities unless they collaborate with local partners.
  
The Agency said these measures are aligned with the broader “Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy,” approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025. This national policy revises procurement guidelines to favour Nigerian-made goods and services, requires waivers for foreign procurements only when local alternatives are unavailable, and mandates technology transfer and capacity development in foreign contracts.
   
In addition to regulatory enforcement, NITDA says it is actively building local capacity through initiatives led by the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI). These include developing talent pipelines, training public servants, and supporting local startups and SMEs to meet global standards.
   
In the SpeedStar PC saga, CCMON asserted that NITDA should shoulder some blame for the alleged proliferation of counterfeit computers under its supervision.
NITDA explained that the project in question was six years old, stressing that any system used for six years can develop faults.
  
According to the Agency, the Speed star should have done their investigation to be sure it is not their system before coming to NITDA in 2024 for a 2019 project.
NITDA affirmed that it bears no culpability — neither in fact nor in law.

The agency reiterated its compliance with national procurement regulations and its limited role in the branding and manufacturing of hardware.
   
“By firmly asserting the boundaries of its mandate, NITDA aims to shield itself from direct responsibility, emphasising that any breach in quality or intellectual property rights must be addressed within legal frameworks targeting the suppliers directly,” it stated. 
Meanwhile, Beta Computers has petitioned the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy over the over-deployment of fake Speedstar PC products by NITDA contractors.
  
Managing Director of Beta Computers, owners of Speedstar PC, Will Anyaegbunam, in the petition dated April 3, 2025, noted that the Presidential Executive orders on the patronage of made-in-Nigeria computers were constantly sabotaged by the illegal activities of some of the contractors NITDA was awarding the supply of locally manufactured computers to.
  
Anyaegbunam, in his petition to the minister, said: “We were encouraged to write this petition because of counsel from key stakeholders in our ecosystem, as we all have high regard and nothing but good to say about your stewardship since your assumption as the minister in this very critical ministry in our country’s developmental journey.”