Nigeria’s telecommunications industry has expressed strong support for plans to establish local smartphone manufacturing, describing the initiative as a major step toward improving digital access and strengthening the country’s technology sector.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said the proposal by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) could help increase broadband adoption, create jobs, and make smartphones more affordable for millions of Nigerians.
Speaking with journalists, ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, praised the vision recently shared by NCC Board Chairman Idris Olorunnimbe, who called for local smartphone production and better financing options to bridge Nigeria’s digital inclusion gap.
According to Adebayo, Nigeria has the population, market size, and youthful workforce needed to become a leading technology manufacturing hub in Africa. However, he stressed that the country’s goal should go beyond simply assembling imported smartphone parts.
He explained that Nigeria should focus on building real manufacturing capacity through investments in research, engineering, software development, semiconductor technology, and product design. Such investments, he said, would allow the country to produce world-class digital devices not only for local consumers but also for export to other African countries and global markets.
Adebayo also pointed out that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) presents another opportunity for Nigeria. He said AI is already transforming industries by improving product design, manufacturing processes, quality control, supply chain management, and customer service.
According to him, adopting AI-powered manufacturing will increase productivity, create high-skilled employment opportunities, and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa’s technology industry.
The ALTON chairman also highlighted the growing problem of counterfeit and non-approved mobile devices circulating in the Nigerian market. He noted that these devices often affect network performance, reduce consumer confidence, and hurt legitimate manufacturers.
He believes that producing quality smartphones locally under strict standards would reduce dependence on grey-market imports while protecting consumers and supporting industrial development.
To make smartphones more accessible, Adebayo endorsed innovative financing models that would allow Nigerians to purchase devices through affordable payment plans. He also recommended stronger device management systems and identity-based credit solutions to expand smartphone ownership across the country.
He assured that telecommunications operators are willing to collaborate with the government, investors, manufacturers, universities, financial institutions, and development partners to build a sustainable smartphone manufacturing industry in Nigeria.
The renewed call for local production follows comments made by NCC Board Chairman Idris Olorunnimbe during the Digital Africa Summit Roundtable held in Shanghai. At the event, he identified smartphone affordability—not network coverage or internet data prices—as the biggest obstacle preventing many Nigerians from participating fully in the digital economy.
He described affordable smartphones as essential tools that give citizens access to education, healthcare, financial services, e-commerce, and government digital services. He therefore called for coordinated efforts involving policy reforms, local manufacturing, trusted devices, and accessible financing to boost broadband usage nationwide.
The announcement comes shortly after ALTON also supported the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)directive requiring banks, fintech companies, and payment service providers to store payment transaction data on local servers beginning January 1, 2027.
According to ALTON, the new policy will reduce the industry’s exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations while strengthening Nigeria’s digital payment infrastructure and regulatory oversight.
As Nigeria continues to expand its digital economy, industry stakeholders believe that combining local smartphone manufacturing with supportive government policies could accelerate innovation, improve digital inclusion, and position the country as a technology leader in Africa.
