By Obas Ediedesa
The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi has urged the management of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) to continue to work to ensure that other countries do not use Nigeria as a dumping ground for substandard technologies.
Abdullahi who spoke when he visited the NOTAP headquarters in Abuja pledged Federal Government support for the agency to ensure that it fulfills its mandate.
He commended NOTAP whose intervention in technology importation process saved Nigeria about N240 billion in capital flights, noting that such an agency plays critical role in Nigeria’s economic and technological growth.
He charged the management to ensure that the country is not made a dumping ground for all sort of technologies, especially from countries that have a trade mark of producing third rated products.
He called on NOTAP to help in transforming the countries technology as well as stimulate the economic activities of the country.
The Minister who inspected the new head office building of NOTAP, said the Ministry will support the agency to ensure that building is completed by the end of the year.
Barrister Mohammed further charged the NOTAP to handle its duties with much discretion and professional decorum, especially the business of registering contracts for the transfer of foreign technology.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar who accompanied the Minister on the visit, said his coming to NOTAP was a eye opener given the efforts made by the agency in fortifying its current structure and also expressed satisfaction with what had been achieved with little resources.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the Director General of NOTAP, Dr Danazumi Mohammed Ibrahim thanked the Minister and the Permanent Secretary for the visit and assured them of renewed commitment in achieving the mandate of the organization.
He explained that the new office building was about 55 percent completed but required N350 million to be finished. Of the amount needed the budget for the year provided only N100 million, he added.
He therefore solicited the support of the Minister in raising the balance to complete the building.
