The Federal Government has launched the first made-in-Nigeria cell phone as President Muhammadu Buhari was presented with the indigenous phone, known as ITF Mobile.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, presented the phone to the president before the commencement of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
According to Mr Adebayo, the phone is one of the 12 cell phones produced, using locally sourced components by the electrical/electronics technology department of the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) Model Skills Training Centre.
He said:
12 indigenous mobile cell phones produced by the Model Skills Training Centre of the Industrial Training Fund, an agency under Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, were launched.
It gives me great pleasure Mr President, to present you with one of the phones.
Buhari also presided over the swearing-in of one commissioner each for the National Population Commission and the Federal Civil Service Commission ahead of the cabinet meeting’s deliberations.
Those sworn in were Wakil Bukar as the FCC commissioner and Mohammed Dattijo Usman as the NPC commissioner.
Their predecessors died recently.
Meanwhile, Buhari is presiding over the FEC meeting at the conference room of the First Lady’s office.
Among those physically present are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.
Others include information minister Lai Mohammed, finance minister Zainab Ahmed, and justice minister Abubakar Malami.
The release of the phone came at a time when the incumbent has become less popular among Nigerians following its dictatorial style of leadership.
The Buhari-led Federal Government recently announced a ban on the use of Twitter, a social media platform through which many Nigerians use in expressing their opinions as well as drive sales for their businesses.
This recent moves by the government raises a question about the numbers of Nigerians who will purchase the phone, amidst of hyper inflation.