By Peace Udugba
The Nigerian government has unveiled a comprehensive package of incentives aimed at attracting global technology manufacturers to establish smartphone, tablet and networking equipment assembly plants in the country.
Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, announced the initiative during a ministerial-level address at the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable in Shanghai, China. He said investors who establish manufacturing facilities in Nigeria by November 2026 would benefit from extensive government support, including specialised customs procedures, manufacturing tax holidays and direct executive intervention where necessary.
According to Olorunnimbe, the initiative is designed to accelerate foreign direct investment, create jobs and reduce the cost of digital devices for millions of Nigerians.
“Whatever it takes to get the plant standing, we will pursue it together, because every factory that rises in Nigeria grows our economy, employs our young people, and brings the price of a phone closer to what an ordinary Nigerian can pay,” he said.
He explained that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported devices has left consumers exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations and import-related costs, making smartphones and other digital tools increasingly unaffordable.
Establishing local manufacturing plants, he said, would help stabilise prices by reducing dependence on imports and insulating the market from currency volatility.
Olorunnimbe added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which recognises digital connectivity as critical infrastructure for economic growth rather than a luxury.
Beyond manufacturing, the NCC chairman outlined plans to expand digital inclusion through locally assembled devices preloaded with zero-rated educational platforms. The initiative is intended to ensure students can access educational resources without incurring data costs.
He noted that requiring students to purchase data before accessing educational materials is comparable to charging tuition to enter a public school, stressing that digital learning should remain accessible to all.
Under the proposal, locally assembled smartphones, MiFi devices and home routers would come preconfigured with access to educational repositories and key government digital platforms.
The devices would also feature applications that provide access to digital identity verification, public healthcare services and agricultural extension programmes, making essential government services more accessible.
Olorunnimbe further disclosed that integrating National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) systems with secure device technology could pave the way for credit-backed device financing, allowing more Nigerians to acquire digital devices while strengthening financial inclusion.
“By pairing verifiable identity with credit history and secure device technology, the phone itself becomes the on-ramp to a credit record and then to the wider financial system,” he said.
He said the Commission’s strategy marks a shift from relying solely on regulatory enforcement towards creating an enabling environment that encourages investment, innovation and industrial development.
According to him, the policy framework is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, promote local manufacturing and position the country as a leading technology hub on the African continent while advancing broader digital inclusion goals.
