NCC courts global phone makers with Tinubu-backed incentives to cut smartphone costs

Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator is stepping up efforts to make smartphones more affordable by urging global device manufacturers to establish production plants in the country, promising direct presidential support for investors willing to commit before November.

Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), made the offer during the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable in Shanghai, China, saying he would personally take investment commitments to President Bola Tinubu to secure the waivers and incentives needed to establish local manufacturing.

The proposal marks one of the strongest signals yet that the federal government wants to shift Nigeria away from heavy dependence on imported mobile devices, which have become increasingly expensive because of exchange-rate volatility.

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“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,” Olorunnimbe said.

The initiative comes as policymakers increasingly see the cost of smartphones, not the availability of mobile networks, as the biggest obstacle preventing millions of Nigerians from participating in the digital economy.

Nigeria has more than 170 million active mobile connections and over 150 million mobile internet users, yet millions remain offline because they cannot afford internet-enabled devices.

According to Olorunnimbe, producing smartphones locally would reduce the industry’s dependence on imported components and foreign exchange, making prices more stable for consumers.

“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.

The strategy represents a shift in policy thinking. Rather than relying solely on expanding broadband infrastructure, the NCC believes reducing the cost of internet-enabled devices will unlock a new wave of digital inclusion.

Industry observers have long argued that while Nigeria has invested heavily in mobile network expansion, many citizens remain unable to benefit because smartphones have become increasingly unaffordable following repeated currency depreciation.

Beyond lowering device prices, the regulator is linking local manufacturing to broader digital inclusion programmes.

Olorunnimbe said the commission is also pursuing its zero-rating initiative, under which students would be able to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms without paying for mobile data.

“Free data for learning is one of the most direct ways to give the Renewed Hope Agenda practical, daily meaning,” he said.

The NCC believes the two initiatives reinforce each other. Locally assembled smartphones, MiFi devices and routers could be configured with pre-installed educational platforms and government digital services, allowing new users to access learning resources immediately after purchasing their devices.

The approach is also designed to avoid the shortcomings of previous attempts to assemble mobile phones in Nigeria.

Earlier local assembly efforts struggled with quality concerns, weak consumer confidence and competition from imported brands.

Olorunnimbe said the latest initiative would not compromise on standards.

“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.

To support that objective, the NCC plans to strengthen quality assurance through updated Type Approval Regulations and a new Device Management System aimed at reducing counterfeit and substandard devices in the Nigerian market.

Analysts say the proposal reflects a broader industrial policy that combines investment incentives, local manufacturing and digital inclusion rather than treating them as separate goals.

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If successful, local production could help reduce manufacturers’ exposure to foreign exchange risks, create skilled jobs, strengthen Nigeria’s electronics value chain and improve access to affordable internet-enabled devices.

The initiative also aligns with the federal government’s wider efforts to deepen local value addition, encourage technology investment and build a stronger digital economy.

Whether global manufacturers respond before the November timeline will determine how quickly Nigeria can move from being one of Africa’s largest smartphone import markets to becoming a significant production hub for devices serving both domestic and regional demand.

For the NCC, however, expanding broadband networks alone is no longer enough. Making smartphones affordable has become the next major challenge in connecting millions of Nigerians to education, government services and the digital economy.