The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has announced a package of incentives aimed at promoting the local production of smartphones, tablets and other telecommunications equipment as part of efforts to make digital devices more affordable and increase access to technology across the country.
The Chairman of the NCC Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, said the Commission was taking a more active role in driving industrial growth by creating an enabling environment for investors to establish device manufacturing plants in Nigeria.
He said the initiative to reduce production costs and boost local manufacturing capacity would be backed by policy measures including tax holidays and streamlined customs processes.
“Effective regulation is still very important to ensure consumers have access to good quality and affordable digital devices,” Olorunnimbe said.
“Regulation and market integrity are what make a market affordable to begin with. They are its condition. A phone is only really cheap if it’s real, if it’s safe, if it works and if it has the warranty the buyer can trust,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria has made significant progress in communications coverage but the cost of smartphones is still high to allow many citizens have access to the digital space.
The NCC chairman said that reducing the cost of devices would complement the ongoing investment in network infrastructure and help bridge the country’s digital divide.
He also called for moving beyond the traditional model of buying phones outright, arguing that more flexible financing options will make devices accessible to a larger segment of the population.
“Get rid of the idea that a Nigerian has to buy a phone outright, in one payment, on the day. “It’s not how it works anywhere else in the world,” he added.
Olorunnimbe said locally made smartphones, routers and MiFi devices would be integrated into the Commission’s digital inclusion programmes as part of the broad-based strategy.
He said the devices are likely to have embedded links to educational platforms as part of the NCC’s zero-rated education programme, allowing students and other users to access learning materials without paying for data.
In addition, the devices will provide direct access to key government digital services, including civic registration, tax administration and e-health platforms, to improve citizens’ access to essential public services.
“It’s not just about expanding access to the internet,” he said, “but making sure that digital connectivity translates into better educational opportunities, improved public service delivery and greater economic participation.”
The policy is a testament of the NCC’s commitment to the development of indigenous technology and support for Nigeria’s drive for a more inclusive and self-reliant digital economy, NCC said.
