The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said 100 per cent of the SIM cards used in the country are manufactured locally.
Head of New Media and Information Security, Babagana Digima stated this at a training for media executives in Lagos, tagged ‘Upskilling Media Stakeholders on Trends in Telecommunications’.
Digima attributed the feat to the commission’s commitment to encouraging local content and indigenous participation in the industry through the Nigeria Office for Development in Indigenous Telecommunications Sector (NORDIT).
He said: “The NCC, by Section 1D to F of our Act, has spelt out our function to encourage indigenous participation of telecom companies, as well as the national policy for promotion of indigenous content in the Telecommunications Sector which established NORDIT.
“Indigenous participation is one of the key areas NORDIT has played a major role.
“As recent as two years ago, almost 99 per cent of SIM cards used in Nigeria were imported. But when NORDIT came, we made it one of our key low-hanging fruits that in five to six months, SIM cards will be manufactured locally. We directed all the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to source their SIM cards locally. And this has been working since. As at now 100, per cent of the SIM cards used in Nigeria are manufactured locally, no more importation.”
Digima added the commission is also advocating to encourage indigenous participation in all aspects of telecoms. According to him, NORDIT has provided grants and incentives to some companies to ensure the industry develops.
“We are currently sponsoring the manufacture of Corrugated Ordinal Duct, and the company that will be established will be the first in Africa to manufacture such kind of product.
“We also encourage tower manufacture, fibre manufacture, and have been in touch with Coleman Cables, which are currently manufacturing fibre cables. They have even overtaken the only company in Egypt in manufacturing capacity and they are expanding.
“I am sure a lot of companies are very happy with what we have done,” he added.
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the initiative to upskill senior media executives was borne out of the need to bridge the gap between the commission and how it is understood by the public.
Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) Abraham Oshadami, said the commission needs to develop a mechanism that would enable consumers and stakeholders understand how things work in the industry.
He said: “These have led to the birth of this beautiful initiative. If our industry must succeed, there must be proper enlightenment and education.
“So, your physical role cannot be over-emphasised, and that is why these are carefully selected executives from across all platforms. It is to enable you understand the commission and see the operational interventions that the commission has engaged in over the time, as well as our challenges.
“This will enable us work together to shape the landscape and also help consumers understand what is happening.”