Olufemi Adeyemi
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed that a major key achievement of some of the policies initiated by it, especially as it relates to local content development, is the ban on the importation of whole-body subscriber identification module (SIM) cards.
The local SIM-cards manufacturing market is now valued at N55 billion, after one year of a ban on the importation of whole-body SIM cards in the Information and Communications Technology sector.This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the
Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, at the 2nd
edition of the Nigerian Telecommunication Indigenous, NTICE Expo 2023, holding
in Lagos.
Recall that the ban on the importation of whole-body SIM
cards was announced at the maiden edition of the NTICE 2022.
In his presentation, Danbatta, who was represented by the
Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Engr. Ubale Maska stated that the
ban has not only eased the burden on the sector’s demand for foreign exchange
but has also created a business in excess of N55 billion for the local SIM card
manufacturers in Nigeria which in turn has created direct and indirect jobs.
While speaking on the sector’s achievements he said:
“Nigerian Telecoms Sector is amongst the biggest contributors to socio-economic
growth of the country, as evidenced by the numerous achievements of the sector.
“It is not out of place to mention that the sector’s performance
was instrumental to lifting Nigeria out of recession with 12.45 per cent
contribution to the GDP in Q4 2020.
“This figure increased to 14.13 per cent as at Q1 2023. The
Sector is also home to two of the most valuable listed companies in Nigeria with
a collective market capitalization in excess of N10.45 trillion,” the CEO
revealed.
Recall also that the Commission in 2021 and 2022, generated
revenue in excess of $820 million from the auction and grant of 3.5GHz Spectrum
band licences to three operators to boost the deployment of Fifth Generation,
5G, services in Nigeria. This placed Nigeria on the global 5G map ahead of many
countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Danbatta averred that “It is also important to note that
while Quality of Service and Quality of Experience in telecommunications
services in Nigeria have continued to improve, tariffs have remained stable
notwithstanding the increase in cost-of-service provision to the telecom
operators.
“In order to sustain and further improve Quality of Service
and Quality of Experience in telecommunications services in Nigeria, we must
embrace indigenous content and value creation within the telecoms value chain,
otherwise, an increase in telecoms tariff will be inevitable.”
“Nigeria with its rich history of innovation, resilience,
and creativity as well as our diverse culture, talents, and perspectives has
birthed solutions that uniquely cater to our challenges and aspirations.
“The NTICE 2023 platform is a celebration of these
achievements, a testament to the Nigerian spirit of ingenuity,” Danbatta said.
Danbatta posited that NTICE is not only an exhibition but it
is also a gathering of industry players that embodies the spirit of innovation,
resilience, collaboration, and progress.
He said: “The Commission is fully committed to the drive of
the Federal Government to place the Nigerian Economy on a sustainable pedestal
through all the necessary policies put in place.
“When we created the Nigeria Office for Development of
Indigenous Telecoms Sector, NODITS as a Special Purpose Vehicle under the
Commission to drive the National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in
the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector in July 2021, the Office was given four
areas of focus: Manufacturing, Human Capacity, Research & Development
(R&D) and Software & Services development for the telecoms sector,” he
explained.