The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to introduce policy incentives aimed at promoting local manufacturing of smartphones, tablets, routers, and other telecommunications devices as part of efforts to deepen digital inclusion and strengthen the country’s technology ecosystem.
The initiative, unveiled by the Chairman of the NCC, Idris Olorunnimbe, seeks to encourage domestic production through measures that include specialized customs procedures, tax incentives, and regulatory support for manufacturers.
According to Olorunnimbe, the Commission is expanding its role beyond market regulation to help create an enabling environment for investment in Nigeria’s electronics manufacturing sector.
“Regulation and market integrity are what make a market affordable in the first place,” he said. “A phone is only truly affordable if it is genuine, safe, functions properly, and comes with a warranty consumers can trust.”
The NCC said the policy is intended to address one of the major obstacles to digital access in Nigeria—the high cost of internet-enabled devices. Although mobile network coverage has expanded significantly across the country, many Nigerians remain unable to afford entry-level smartphones needed to access digital services.
The Commission believes that encouraging local manufacturing could lower production and retail costs, making smartphones and other internet-enabled devices more accessible to low-income households.
Olorunnimbe also called for broader adoption of device financing models, arguing that consumers should not be expected to purchase smartphones through one-time payments alone.
“We should move away from the assumption that every Nigerian must buy a phone outright. That is not how consumers acquire devices in many other markets,” he said.
The proposed manufacturing programme is also expected to complement the Commission’s broader digital inclusion agenda. Among its initiatives is a plan to support zero-rated access to educational websites, allowing users to access approved learning platforms without data charges.
The NCC said it is encouraging manufacturers to preload locally produced smartphones, MiFi devices, and routers with direct links to educational resources, vocational training platforms, and selected government digital services. The aim is to improve access to online education, public services, tax platforms, civic registration systems, and digital healthcare applications.
Industry analysts say the strategy reflects Nigeria’s growing emphasis on developing domestic technology manufacturing while reducing dependence on imported devices. If successfully implemented, the initiative could stimulate investment, create manufacturing jobs, strengthen local supply chains, and support the country’s broader digital economy and industrialisation objectives.
The policy aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to expand affordable internet access while building local capacity in technology manufacturing, a priority shared by several African countries seeking to accelerate digital transformation and economic diversification.
