Nigeria Achieves 100% Local SIM Card Production

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a significant milestone: all SIM cards used in the country are now manufactured locally. This achievement is attributed to the commission’s commitment to promoting indigenous participation in the telecommunications sector.

Engr. Babagana Digima, Head of New Media and Information Security at NCC, revealed this news during a training program for media executives in Lagos. The program, titled “Upskilling Media Stakeholders on Trends in Telecommunications,” aimed to bridge the gap between the NCC and the public’s understanding of the industry.

Digima highlighted the role of the Nigeria Office for Development in Indigenous Telecommunications Sector (NORDIT) in achieving this feat. Established by the NCC, NORDIT actively encourages local content creation and participation within the telecom industry.

Previously, Nigeria relied heavily on imported SIM cards. Digima explained, “In the last two years, almost 99% to 100% of SIM cards were imported.” However, with NORDIT’s intervention, this dependence has been eliminated.

“We made it one of our key objectives to achieve local SIM card manufacturing within five to six months,” Digima stated. The NCC actively directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to source their SIM cards locally, resulting in the current situation of 100% domestic production.

Beyond SIM cards, Digima elaborated on NORDIT’s broader efforts to promote indigenous participation. “We engage in advocacy work to encourage companies and individuals to participate in all aspects of telecoms,” he said. NORDIT even provides grants and incentives to support the development of the industry.

An example of this support is the ongoing sponsorship for the manufacture of Corrugated Ordinal Ducts. This will establish the first company in Africa to produce this specific product. NORDIT has also played a role in the growth of tower and fiber optic cable manufacturing in Nigeria.

“We are currently in touch with Coleman Cables, which are currently manufacturing fibre cables,” Digima noted. “They have even overtaken the only company in Egypt in manufacturing capacity and they are expanding.”

This focus on local production has garnered positive feedback from companies within the industry. Digima expressed confidence that many companies are “very happy with what we have done.”

On a separate note, the NCC’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasized the importance of media training initiatives. He believes such programs are crucial for improving public understanding of the telecommunications sector.

Maida, represented by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services at NCC, stated, “The consumers and stakeholders need to understand how things work in the industry.”

This training program specifically targets senior media executives across print, broadcast, and online platforms. By equipping them with a deeper understanding of the NCC’s operations and challenges, the commission hopes to foster better collaboration and public awareness within the telecommunications landscape.

The program’s ultimate goal is to cultivate a network of core media partners and establish a strategic relationship with media stakeholders. This will allow for more effective communication and education of consumers about developments within the Nigerian telecommunications industry.