By George Ozalla
Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, has assured global smartphone manufacturers of presidential support and special investment incentives if they establish production facilities in Nigeria, declaring that the Federal Government is prepared to remove major barriers to local device manufacturing.
Olorunnimbe made the commitment during the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable held in Shanghai, China, where he urged leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), investors and technology industry leaders to take advantage of Nigeria’s vast market by establishing factories capable of serving both the country and the wider African continent.
According to him, any manufacturer willing to commence the construction of a factory in Nigeria before November this year would receive direct government backing through presidential waivers and other incentives designed to encourage investment.
“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,” he stated.
He explained that attracting global device manufacturers into Nigeria has become imperative as the country seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on imported smartphones and other digital devices, which have become increasingly expensive due to exchange rate fluctuations and import-related costs.
Olorunnimbe further stated that local manufacturing represents the most sustainable solution to Nigeria’s smartphone affordability challenge, stressing that millions of Nigerians remain excluded from the digital economy simply because they cannot afford quality internet-enabled devices.
He added that producing smartphones locally would significantly reduce exposure to foreign exchange volatility since a substantial portion of manufacturing costs would be denominated in naira rather than foreign currencies.
According to him, the development would help stabilize retail prices, improve affordability and enable more Nigerians to own smartphones for education, financial services, e-commerce, digital employment and access to government services.
The NCC Board Chairman stressed that Nigeria possesses one of Africa’s largest telecommunications markets, with over 170 million active mobile connections and more than 150 million mobile internet users, making the country an attractive destination for global manufacturers seeking long-term growth.
He noted that beyond providing affordable devices, local manufacturing would deepen Nigeria’s industrial base, stimulate technology transfer, strengthen domestic value chains and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across engineering, logistics, retail, maintenance and component supply industries.
Olorunnimbe further stated that previous attempts at local smartphone production encountered challenges arising from poor product quality, weak after-sales services and limited consumer confidence, adding that any new initiative must deliver products capable of competing favourably with imported brands.
“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.
He also advocated wider adoption of smartphone financing through flexible instalment payment arrangements, explaining that many Nigerians who require digital devices for work, education and business cannot afford to pay the full purchase price at once.
According to him, combining affordable financing with local manufacturing would accelerate digital inclusion by enabling millions of Nigerians to acquire smartphones gradually while supporting domestic production and expanding the country’s digital economy.
Olorunnimbe further stated that the NCC is strengthening consumer confidence through enhanced device regulation and market oversight. He explained that the Commission’s refreshed Type Approval Regulations and the proposed Device Management System are designed to combat counterfeit, cloned and stolen devices while improving product traceability, quality assurance and consumer protection.
“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,” he stressed.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has continued to advocate policies aimed at expanding digital access, improving consumer protection and encouraging greater private sector investment in the telecommunications sector. The latest proposal to attract global device manufacturers is expected to complement the Federal Government’s broader drive to boost local production, create employment and accelerate digital inclusion across the country.
