NCC chairman calls for local device manufacturing to drive digital inclusion

The Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, has called on global device manufacturers to establish production facilities in Nigeria, promising to facilitate presidential support and regulatory incentives for companies willing to invest in local manufacturing.

Olorunnimbe made the appeal during the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable held in Shanghai, China, on June 24, 2026, where he urged technology investors to help address Nigeria’s digital access challenges by producing internet-enabled devices locally instead of relying on imports.

Speaking to technology executives at the summit, the NCC chairman said the Commission was ready to support investors committed to establishing manufacturing plants in Nigeria.

“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 said.

According to him, expanding local manufacturing is essential to reducing the cost of digital devices, which remains one of the biggest barriers to internet access and digital inclusion in Nigeria despite continued expansion of mobile broadband infrastructure.

Olorunnimbe noted that producing smartphones and other communication devices locally would reduce dependence on foreign exchange and shield consumers from fluctuations in the value of the naira.

“When a device is built with Nigerian raw materials and Nigerian labour, more of its cost is denominated in naira. It stops rising and falling with every move in the dollar,” he said.

He explained that the initiative forms part of the NCC’s broader digital inclusion strategy, which also includes discussions on zero-rating educational platforms to enable students access digital learning resources without incurring data charges.

The NCC chairman acknowledged that previous attempts at local device assembly in Nigeria had faced challenges, including concerns over product quality and limited consumer acceptance.

He stressed, however, that the Commission was not advocating local production at the expense of quality.

“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, and we will not pretend otherwise,” he said.

Olorunnimbe added that the initiative would be complemented by updated Type Approval Regulations and the planned deployment of a Device Management System designed to improve device standards, enhance quality assurance and curb the circulation of counterfeit telecommunications devices in the country.

The NCC believes the proposed measures will encourage investment in Nigeria’s technology manufacturing sector, improve affordability of digital devices and accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda.