Nigeria to Begin Production of Smartphones, SIM Cards? Pantami Reveals FG's Latest Plan

- It is possible that in the next two years, Nigeria will not need to import smartphones and SIM cards

- Isa Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy, on Thursday, June 3, claimed the country has what it takes to produce a large number of phones

- The minister said at the moment, the Buhari-led government has provided an environment to support the production of 60% of the needed items for the breakthrough

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

Abuja - The dream of producing smartphones and SIM cards in Nigeria may not be farfetched after all, according to the federal government.

Isa Pantami, the minister of communications and digital economy, on Thursday, June 3, asserted that in the next two years, the government will make available not less than 60% of materials needed for the local production of technological inventions in the telecom industry, Daily Nigerian reports.

Read also

Breaking: Several injured as suspected dynamite explodes in Rivers state

Pantami added that so far, the ministry has provided an enabling environment to actualise this grand goal, Leadership also reported.

The minister who spoke at an All Progressives Congress (APC) professional forum in Abuja on Thursday explained that the country has the potentials to produce 200 million SIM cards every year.

He said:

“We came up with a policy that in the next two to three years, a minimum of 60 to 70 percent of what we need in the telecommunications sector is going to be produced locally and we have started it.

“When this administration came on board, even SIM cards were imported into Nigeria.

“But, as it is today, the Federal Government has provided an enabling environment for the private sector to produce SIM cards, not only for our consumption but for the entire African continent."

Pantami bags outstanding award

Meanwhile, Pantami had been conferred the most outstanding minister of the year award.

Read also

Lagos state raises alarm, claims 119 passengers from high-risk countries refuse isolation

In a post by the ministry on Facebook, the award was in recognition of the laudable policies developed by the ministry under him.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

The post listed the NIN –SIM Data linkage, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria as reasons why the award was conferred on him.

Source: Legit.ng