Indigenous manufacturers raise alarm over alleged fake computers

August 4, 2025 by Lucas Ajanaku

Indigenous original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have raised the alarm over alleged deployment of over deployment of fake SPEEDSTAR Computers by the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) through its contractors, saying that it is economic sabotage on the nation especially on the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The OEMs, acting under the aegis of Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON), in a petition to NITDA jointly signed by its President, Engr. Adenike Abudu and its Secretary-General, Tosin Ilesanmi, while condemning the counterfeiting of SPEEDSTAR PCs said the development was a national embarrassment to all stakeholders in the technology ecosystem.

Efforts to elicit the reaction of NITDA was decidedly ignored as a WhatsApp message sent to both its DG Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and Head, Corporate Affiars, Hajiya Hadiza Umar were ignored. A copy of the letter was attached alongside questions seeking clarification.

Urging NITDA, nation’s chief IT regulator, to address the matter with urgency, the letter, a copy which was received and acknowledge by NITDA since October 25, 2024, reads in part: “One of our members, BETA Computers have reported the counterfeiting of her SPEEDSTAR brand PC to your good offices since August 24, 2024. They informed CCMON executive 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.

 “We note that 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 suggest that the poor image of bad quality that has been used to taunt local OEMs’ brands is the handiwork of criminal vendors.

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We are supporting BETA to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion that brings 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.”

While commending the agency for its support and commitment to the growth of local content in IT, the group added the local PCs if well deployed by all ministries departments and agencies (MDAs) will create more jobs for the local economy.

The former president, Information Technology Association of Nigerian (ITAN), Mr. Will Anyaegbunam who is also the Managing Director of Beta Computers said the deployment of fake PCs by the industry IT regulator was killing local OEMs capacities to grow as expected.

According to Anyaegbunam who is also CCMON BoT member, critical stakeholders are now being forced to ask questions such as: “Where is the Nigeria first project in ICT? Who is frustrating IT growth and development in Nigeria? Who is promoting local content in ICT?  Whose agenda is NITDA really pursuing? Who are the faking cabals that NITDA seems to be protecting?”

 “It appears that NITDA is not taking this faking issue as seriously as it demands for reasons yet to be fully understood. Perhaps, she has not fully understood that Piracy is a serious economic crime and sabotage of the president’s economic policies anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Not only does it kill local capacity that she is supposed to be growing, it discourages foreign direct investment and inflicts massive damage to the reputation and fortunes of local manufacturers who have been unjustly hounded with poor quality tags for so long.

“This case presents an auspicious opportunity that NITDA should take to unveil the possible syndicate behind this dastardly crime and bring them to justice for their criminality towards dousing speculations rife among critical stakeholders that they may have something they are trying to hide.”

Anyaegbunam warned that unless NITDA promotes local capacities, the country’s quest for global competitiveness in technology development will remain a mere wishful thinking.