NCC Seeks Presidential Incentives to Attract Investors in Smartphone Factories, Boost Digital Inclusion

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe, has pledged to personally seek presidential incentives for investors willing to establish smartphone manufacturing plants in Nigeria, describing local production as the key to affordable devices, job creation and accelerated digital inclusion.

Olorunnimbe made the commitment in a statement issued on Saturday after his participation at the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable held in Shanghai on June 24, where he called for stronger private-sector participation in Nigeria’s digital economy and manufacturing ecosystem.

According to him, attracting smartphone manufacturers to Nigeria would significantly reduce the cost of devices, generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs and strengthen the country’s industrial capacity.

He explained that local production would make quality smartphones more affordable and accessible to millions of Nigerians, particularly students, youths and small business owners, thereby expanding digital inclusion and enabling wider participation in online learning, mobile banking, e-commerce, digital work and access to government services.

The NCC board chairman noted that Nigeria’s dependence on imported smartphones has exposed consumers to high prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and supply chain disruptions, stressing that domestic manufacturing remained the most sustainable solution to the country’s smartphone affordability challenge.

He assured prospective investors of government support, saying manufacturers that commit to commencing factory construction before November would receive assistance to facilitate their investments.

“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,” Olorunnimbe promised.

He explained that manufacturing smartphones locally would reduce dependence on foreign currencies because a larger portion of production costs would be denominated in naira, thereby shielding consumers from exchange rate volatility and helping to stabilise retail prices.

The NCC chairman also said the initiative could position Nigeria as a regional hub for smartphone assembly and technology manufacturing while creating opportunities for engineers, technicians, logistics providers, component suppliers, retailers and other businesses across the value chain.

Acknowledging the shortcomings of previous local smartphone manufacturing efforts, Olorunnimbe said future investments must focus on producing devices that meet international quality standards while remaining competitively priced.

“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 stated.

He disclosed that Nigeria currently has more than 170 million mobile connections and over 150 million mobile internet users, describing the figures as clear evidence of the country’s enormous market potential for smartphone manufacturers.

To strengthen consumer confidence, Olorunnimbe said the NCC was enhancing device regulation and market oversight through refreshed Type Approval Regulations and a proposed Device Management System designed to curb counterfeit, cloned and stolen devices while improving traceability and accountability within the handset market.

“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 added.

The NCC chairman also advocated flexible smartphone financing through instalment payment schemes, arguing that many Nigerians should not be required to pay the full cost of a device upfront before gaining access to digital opportunities.

He affirmed that combining affordable financing with local manufacturing would accelerate smartphone ownership, stimulate domestic production and retail growth, and deepen digital inclusion across the country.

Olorunnimbe also called on governments, regulators and industry stakeholders across Africa to collaborate in promoting local device production, harmonising standards and expanding access to affordable smartphones, stressing that such cooperation would help build a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant digital economy on the continent.