NCC Unveils Device Manufacturing Push, Offers Incentives to Local Tech Firms

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NCC Chairman, Idris Olorunnimbe

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a major policy drive to support local manufacturing of smartphones, tablets, routers and other telecommunications devices, promising executive backing and incentives aimed at reducing device costs for Nigerians.

Chairman of the Commission, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, said the NCC is shifting from being only a market regulator to becoming a partner in building a domestic technology industry.

He explained that strong regulation remains essential to making digital services affordable, noting that a device is only truly affordable when it is reliable, safe, properly connected and supported with a warranty.

“Regulation and market integrity are what make a market affordable in the first place. They are the precondition for it. 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,” Olorunnimbe said.

The initiative seeks to tackle one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion, the high cost of smartphones and internet-enabled devices.

According to the NCC chairman, proposed incentives, including specialised customs arrangements and manufacturing tax reliefs, are designed to encourage investors to establish production facilities in Nigeria and drive down retail prices.

He urged industry players to move away from the idea that Nigerians must pay for devices upfront, saying flexible access models are key to expanding connectivity.

The NCC also plans to link local device manufacturing with its zero-rated educational content initiative, which removes data charges from selected learning platforms.

Under the framework, locally produced smartphones, MiFi devices and routers could come with built-in access points to educational resources, vocational training platforms and government digital services.

The Commission said the move will ensure Nigerians are not only connected to the internet but also have easier access to education, public services and economic opportunities.

The NCC believes the strategy will strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, promote self-reliance and position the country as a technology manufacturing hub in Africa.

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