MINISTER of Communication and Digital Economy Isa Pantami told the press that Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards are now manufactured in Nigeria, this was met by disbelief in some quarters.
Pantami told the press that the development is a product of the national policy on local content signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said “after launching the policy until date, SIM cards are being manufactured in Nigeria.”
“Before this administration, SIM cards were being imported into the country but today Nigeria has the capacity to produce SIM cards for the African continent.”
As can be seen from the comment section of a news report (archived here) his statement was met with disbelief.
THE CLAIM
Nigeria manufactures SIM cards.
THE FINDINGS
President Muhammadu Buhari was elected into office on May 29, 2015.
In December 2016, his cabinet member, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment at the time, Okechukwu Enelamah announced funding support for a local SIM card production firm in Lagos.
A SIM card is a chip that contains information and enables mobile phone users to connect to their telecom operators.
The firm, SecureID, was producing banking and telecom cards before it introduced the SIM card manufacturing line.
The new line was set up with funding support from the Bank of Industry (BOI).
The Minister of Communications at the time, Adebayo Shittu did the official unveiling.
At the event in 2016, Kofo Akinkugbe, the plant’s Chief Executive Officer said the firm holds a global endorsement to serve SIM card users across 19 African countries.
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Secretary, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbolahan Awonuga confirmed to the FactCheckHub that the country was importing sim cards for use until the firm started local production.
He also noted it can produce for the African market, “It depends on the patronage but yes, they can produce it.”
Furthermore, Emmanuella Ikekwe an official of the firm told the FactCheckHub they could produce a billion SIM card if need be, however production is based on demand.
“If you need up to a billion SIMS or more, we can as well produce – whatever quantity you want. But remember there are quantities earmarked for each telecom operator. So it’s dependent on their demands.”
THE VERDICT
From the findings from multiple sources the claim that Nigeria manufactures SIM cards is TRUE.
