Nigerian Government Buys 'Brand New' Tech Products That Are Actually Refurbished

Zinox Group Chairman Leo Stan Ekeh has revealed that nearly six in ten technology products bought by Nigerian government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are refurbished items presented as brand new.

Ekeh made this statement at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where he emphasized the need for stronger implementation of the Nigeria First Policy to give indigenous businesses greater consideration in government procurement.

The entrepreneur, with over four decades of experience partnering with global technology Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as HP, IBM, Dell, Cisco, and Microsoft, lamented that many Nigerians prioritize foreign technology products despite sending their children to top educational institutions abroad.

Ekeh called for appropriate sanctions against firms found guilty of presenting refurbished products as new, stating that this practice undermines transparency and value for money in government procurement.