Local manufacturers earned over N55bn from ban on importation of SIM cards — NCC
…Restates commitment to promote indigenous innovations
…Operators hint on tariff increase
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that local manufacturers earned revenue in excess of N55bn from the ban on the importation of whole body sim cards.
Recall that the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami at the NigerianTelecommunications Indigenous Content Expo (NTICE) held last year announced the ban on the importation of SIM cards.
Reminiscing on the achievements of the Commission in promoting indigenous content, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC at this year’s edition of the NTICE said that, “another key achievement of our policies is the ban on importation of wholebody SIM cards which was announced at the maiden NTICE event last year. This ban has not only eased the burden on our demand for foreign exchange but has also created business in excess of N55billlion for the local SIM card manufacturers in Nigeria which in turn has created direct and indirect jobs.”
Professor Danbatta who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska noted that the NTICE is one of the achievements of NCC through NODITS because it has served not only to promote Pillar number 5 (Strategic Partnering) of the Strategic Management Plan SMP 20202024 of the Commission but has also become the flagship indigenous content event for the industry.
He equally restated the Commission’s commitment to continuously supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Innovators to promote our talented young persons and ventures though Angel Investments, R&D support, exposure to Investors and sponsorship to local and international tech events.
The EVC emphasised the importance of showcasing indigenous innovations and providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to nurture local talents and encourage a culture of entrepreneurship and creativity that will propel Nigeria onto the global stage of technological leadership.
The Team lead for Nigeria Office for Development of Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS) welcoming guests added that the key to unlock greater economic growth lies in the ability to harness the huge potentials of indigenous solutions and talents.
Meanwhile Operators in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry under the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) have hinted on a possible increase in price of tariffs offered by the operators.
“The curernt pricing regime of the industry is not sustainable. We must allow market forces to determine prices. We need to look at more realistic pricing as it is not sustainable in the current economic dispensation,” President of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo said at NTICE.
Speaking further, ALTON congratulated the new Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy while urging the minister to focus on policy and allow NCC regulate freely.
“The biggest problem that we have in this sector is policies driven by political interference. The problem of USSD is a simple commercial agreement however political interference made it almost impossible to resolve. We insist as an association that the independence of the regulator is sacrosanct.” Adebayo declared.
The NCC EVC also noted 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.”
The EVC urged Nigerians to embrace indigenous content and value creation within the telecoms value chain iorder to sustain and further improve Quality of Service and Quality of Experience in telecommunications services in Nigeria. Prof Danbatta emphasised that this must be done to avoid an increase in telecoms tariff.
