NCC seeks presidential backing for local smartphone factories

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The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Idris Olorunnimbe, has pledged to seek presidential incentives for investors ready to build smartphone factories in Nigeria.

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Olorunnimbe made the pledge in a statement on Saturday, following his remarks at the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable in Shanghai on June 24.

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He had earlier called for stronger private-sector participation in Nigeria’s digital economy and manufacturing ecosystem at the Summit.

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He said attracting local smartphone manufacturing would help reduce the cost of devices and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

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Olorunnimbe added that local manufacturing would also help expand digital inclusion by making quality smartphones more affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians, especially young people, students and small business owners.

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According to him, the initiative will also deepen Nigeria’s industrial base, strengthen local value chains, stimulate ancillary businesses and reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imported devices.

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The NCC board chairman noted that heavy dependence on imported devices currently exposed consumers to high prices and supply disruptions.

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He said manufacturers that commit to starting factory construction before November would receive government support to facilitate their investments, adding that the NCC was prepared to help connect serious investors with the right policy and regulatory backing.

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“If any manufacturer in this room, or any manufacturer listening to these proceedings will commit to building a factory in Nigeria, and to beginning construction between now and November, I will take that commitment to the President myself and seek the waivers and the support you need to make it happen.”

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He said local manufacturing remained the most sustainable solution to Nigeria’s smartphone affordability challenge, noting that the country could no longer rely solely on imported devices, if it wanted to close its digital access gap.

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Olorunnimbe explained that producing devices locally would reduce exposure to foreign exchange volatility because a greater share of production costs would be denominated in naira rather than in foreign currencies, which often drove up retail prices when exchange rates fluctuate.

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According to him, this will help stabilise smartphone prices over time, improve predictability for consumers and make devices more accessible to millions of Nigerians who are currently priced out of the market.

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He added that the policy could also position Nigeria as a regional hub for device assembly and technology manufacturing, while creating opportunities for engineers, technicians, logistics providers, component suppliers, retailers and other small businesses across the supply chain.

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He acknowledged that previous attempts at local smartphone production struggled because of poor product quality, weak after-sales support and limited consumer confidence, which made many Nigerians continue to prefer imported brands.

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“The aim is to build phones in Nigeria that match the imported phones on quality and beat them on price. A locally made device that asks Nigerians to settle for less is not worth making,” he said.

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The NCC chairman said Nigeria had more than 170 million mobile connections and over 150 million mobile internet users, describing the figures as evidence of the country’s huge market potential for device manufacturers.

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He, however, said smartphone affordability remained the biggest obstacle preventing many Nigerians from participating fully in the digital economy, especially in areas such as online learning, mobile banking, e-commerce, digital work and access to government services.

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Olorunnimbe said the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda had created the foundation for greater investment in telecommunications infrastructure and local manufacturing, and that the next step was to convert policy ambition into practical industrial growth.

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He said the commission was also strengthening consumer confidence through improved device regulation and market oversight, so that Nigerians could trust the phones they buy and use them without fear of fraud, poor performance or safety risks.

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According to him, the refreshed Type Approval Regulations and the proposed Device Management System would curb counterfeit, cloned and stolen devices, while also improving traceability and accountability in the handset market.

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“A phone is only truly cheap if it is real, if it is safe, if it connects properly, and if it carries a warranty the buyer can rely on.”

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Olorunnimbe also advocated wider smartphone financing through instalment payment schemes, saying Nigerians should not be forced to pay the full cost of a device upfront before they could afford to own one.

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He said such financing models, when combined with local manufacturing, could significantly accelerate digital inclusion by allowing more people to acquire smartphones gradually while supporting domestic production and retail growth.

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He urged governments, regulators and industry stakeholders across Africa to promote local production, harmonise device standards and expand access to affordable smartphones.

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The NCC board chairman said the continent must work together to build a stronger and more self-reliant digital economy. (NAN)

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