Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, says Nigeria has the capacity to produce SIM cards and smartphones for the African continent.
The minister said this at an event organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professional Forum yesterday, in Abuja, at the party’s National Secretariat.
The event was organised by the Forum for government appointees to give an account of their stewardship in office to Nigerians.
Pantami, while speaking at the event, assured that henceforth, importation of Subscriber Identification Module, (SIM) cards and other 60-70 percent of items needed in the telecommunication sector would be produced locally.
According to him, Nigeria has the capacity to produce a minimum of 200 million SIM cards annually, saying, “We have the capacity to produce a minimum of 200 million SIM cards annually and have provided an enabling environment for the private sector to start the production of smartphones. Today in Nigeria, we are producing smartphones”.
Giving an account of his stewardship, Pantami said strategies were being deployed by the sector, under his supervision, to support the three-point agenda of the Buhari-led administration that include: security, anti-corruption and economic development.
He added that the ministry was implementing over a dozen policies, to enable the digitalisation of Nigeria, in line with global best practice.
Pantami said that as at March, 2021, the sector had successfully saved over N22.4 billion for the Federal government by executing its mandate in support of the anti-corruption drive of the Buhari administration.
