Nigeria’s Production Of Over 100m SIM Cards, Boost To Local Content Policies-NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that the local content drives of the Federal Government are yielding results as 100 million plus Subscribers Identity Module (SIM) cards are now produced in Nigeria.

NCC’s Head of Financing and Stakeholders Engagement Team, Aderonke Sola-Ogunsola, made the disclosure at the 2023 AFRICANXT event on Thursday in Lagos, while speaking on the topic ‘Mandate and Strides Towards Full Digital Economy in Nigeria’.

Sola-Ogunsola, said this feat followed the federal government’s ban on SIM importation last year, adding that the locally produced SIMs have been ordered by various telecommunications companies putting an end to the importation of SIM in Nigeria.

She said that through the Nigeria Telecommunications Indigenous Content of the NCC, the country could serve as the SIM manufacturer hub for West Africa.

According to her, the Nigeria Telecommunications Indigenous Content policy was put in place to encourage innovation among the youths and promote the digital economy.

In her words: “’There is the need to ensure individuals, businesses, and the nation harness derivable benefits and the opportunities offered by the emergent digital culture, to improve quality of life, grow businesses, and leapfrog the national economy. This remains the overarching objective of government policies, plans, and strategies.”

On her part, the Head of Digital Skills and Services at NCC, Freda Bruce-Bennett, said that Nigeria was rapidly becoming a digital economy, stressing that out of seven unicorns in Africa, Nigeria had five which were Andela, Flutterwave, Interswitch, Jumia and Opay.

She disclosed that NCC was working with campuses and the Nation Youth Service Corp (NYSC) teaching them the process to build their capacity.

Also speaking at the event, Abraham Oshadami, Head, Spectrum Administration, NCC, explained that the digital economy cannot exist without infrastructure, adding that globally infrastructure is the bedrock and infrastructure enables adequate broadband penetration.

Oshadami pointed out that Nigeria has taken the lead in providing wireless broadband infrastructure which has significantly increased the mobile subscriptions and internet access in the country.

He affirmed that Nigeria has done so well in the entire Africa by taking forefront to make available resources and infrastructure to provide high doled broadband leveraging on satellite and technology.

Mr. Reuben Mouka, Director, Public Affairs, gave a synopsis of NCC, noting that the national regulatory authority for telecommunication in Nigeria, is mandated to facilitate the attainment of digital economy as well as many other objectives by enhancing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of digital services.

Mouka said that in carrying out its duties, the Commission has instituted processes to improve connectivity, protect infrastructure, and defend the interest of consumers and other stakeholders.

He acknowledged that while there have been challenges, the Commission has ensured that it consolidates on the successes recorded in the telecom industry.

AfricaNXT, formerly Social Media Week (SMW) is an annual event with the theme ‘’Cooperate. Collaborate. Innovate. Unlocking Our Potential, Ensuring Africa’s Prosperity.”