Nigerian enterprises who import innovations without submitting them for examination and registration risk penalties and legal action, according to the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, the Director-General of NOTAP, made this announcement. She claims that every Nigerian business using foreign technologies is required by law to submit its technology transfer agreements to NOTAP for accurate assessment and registration.
NOTAP was established to regulate the inflow of foreign technology through the registration of technology transfer agreements to promote the development of locally motivated technologies.
According to the DG, the Agency is working assiduously to ensure that Nigerian companies are offered the best contractual terms in the acquisition of foreign technologies,
While noting that the Nigerian economy is being shortchanged through non-registration of technology imports by companies, Amadiobi said:
“Available records show that a greater percentage of companies in Nigeria operate on imported technologies which run into millions of dollars without NOTAP registration necessitated by Law, thereby shortchanging the Nigerian economy.
“By law, it is mandatory that NOTAP should be involved during the technology negotiation stage to ensure that the Nigerian entrepreneur acquires appropriate technology in best contractual terms.”
The D-G expressed NOTAP’s commitment to synergize with companies that strictly comply with its rules, adding that there would be stiff punishment for erring ones.
“The act of not involving NOTAP is shortchanging the system because they have lumped up software and hardware together, thereby not giving room for proper evaluation and registration. Some companies are hiding under non-registration of hardware to avert registration of their agreements,’’ the DG said.
She added that in line with the renewed hope mantra of the present administration, no company would be allowed to continue to avoid registration of technology transfer agreements with NOTAP.
According to her, this would enable the rendition of services commensurate with the money expensed
