The issue with the capital flight was a norm until last month when National Information Technology Development Agency publicly confirmed that there was a movement of N720b which was redeemed from the importation of foreign technologies. Since then, the commission has pledged to be on their toes to stop monies from taking strange flights. It appears that NITDA is keeping to this vow. Just recently, N3bn has been redeemed from taking a swift flight during the process of clearing a project.
Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations noted on Monday that this new process of ‘watchful clearance’ will eradicate the culture of ‘wasteful and duplication of the IT procurement and services in the ministries, departments, and agencies’.
There is a whole lot that could be achieved with this amount. It’s quite unfortunate that the country talks about measuring up with the standard of technology in developed countries. Yet, here we are, still contending with broadband infrastructure, whereas N3bn was about to take a magical flight. Just last month, N720bn only, was recovered.
An investigation revealed that some materials had been overpriced by N3bn under the guise of being imported when these materials could be purchased in the country. Umar has stressed that the commission will do everything in its power to restore sanity and displace corruption within the sector. She said:
‘As an unbiased watchdog of government, the Director-General has ensured that there is transparency, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness in the process of obtaining clearance from NITDA targeted at extracting maximum value from the MDAs’ investments in the IT projects.’
President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed that all government establishments must comply with the IT project’s clearance directive to ensure transparency of ICT procurements, in compliance with the government’s IT shared vision and policy.
Concurrently, the issue of website hosting on generic domain names was condemned. NITDA warned the ministries, departments, and agencies to stick with the ‘government top-level domain name’- gov.ng. It warned that any agency that falters by using a .com domain name will be blacklisted and compelled to face the music.
If the watchdogs continue with the exposure, lots of monies will be redeemed from taking magical flights and the government may stop ringing the alarm of enhancing broadband infrastructure.