Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has expressed sadness over the state of the economy noting that Indians are gradually buying over MTN Nigeria.
According to Onu, not less than 75 percent ownership of MTN has been acquired by Indians.
The minister disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend during the inaugural press conference of the Computer-Based Test, (CBT) Centre Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, (CPAN) with the theme: the impact of ICT in CBT system of examination.
The government, Onu said, does not want foreigners to take away technological opportunities meant for Nigerians.
Represented by the Assistant Director, Information Communication and Technology, (ICT) at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Adeyemi Adebayo, the minister said: “Indians are gradually buying over MTN in Nigeria now and one of the bad things about this development is that Indians now have the capacity to administer what MTN does by physically employing Nigerians.
“They want the capacity to do that from their country and if we in Nigeria allow all these opportunities to go it will not speak well.
“Indians have now taken over not less than 75 percent of MTN and the control of MTN is not from Indian not even from Nigeria and if your association is not taken over this CBT may be Indians will come and take over CBT.
“You people are doing a great work. The government does not want people from other countries to come and take away our technology. I believe that if we have associations like CPAN, they can regroup from the telecom companies they can take back what Indians have taken away from Nigeria.
“MTN Nigeria is actually a Nigerian company, they came from South Africa but who are the people doing the work, are they not Nigerians?”
Onu said Nigeria has not adequately exploited the potentials of the Information Communication and Technology, (ICT) hence weakening the economy.
Onu said the country’s productivity capacity to compete with the world has also been weakened.
The repercussion according to the minister, is that Nigeria may not have international competitive products in the world.
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