National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in Nigerian Telecommunications Sector is in line with Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that Nigerians become active participants in the different sectors of the economy.
The Policy was developed under the authority of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in line with the following sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and the
Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003):
It also derives its authority from Presidential Order 005 on “Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology” and Presidential Executive Order 003 on “Support for Local Content Procurements by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria“.
In order to successfully promote indigenous content in the telecommunications sector, this Policy focuses on key areas where the development of such capacity will have the greatest level of impact.
The following have been identified as such areas:
1. Manufacturing: Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, smartphones, recharge cards, parts, fibre optic cables, masts, etc
2. Services and Software for Telecom sector: Business Support Services (BSS), Operations Support Systems (OSS), Performance Monitoring, Customer Resource Management, Data Analytics and Network Inventory Management, etc.
3. People: An emphasis on skills rather than degrees, a support for emerging technologies, etc
4. Research and Development for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Developing the capacity of Nigerians in these areas will ensure an enhanced role for Nigerians in the design and manufacture of devices and in meeting the manpower requirements in the sector.
The development is in line with the mandate given to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to actively collaborate with the private sector to create a large number of well-paying jobs for Nigerians and the government’s programme to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over a 10 year period.
