‘We Now Have Capacity To Produce SIM Cards’ – FG

The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has patted itself on the back for being able to develop capacity to locally produce SIM cards and provide enabling environment for production of smartphones in the country.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, said this was achieved within President Buhari’s six years in office.

Pantami spoke during a media briefing organized by the professionals’ forum of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

“When this administration came in, even SIM cards were imported into country, but as of today, the Federal Government has provided an enabling environment for the private sector and we now have the capacity to produce SIM cards, not only for our consumption, but for the African continent.

“We have the capacity to produce a minimum of 200 million SIMS yearly. We have provided an enabling environment for the private sector to start the production of smartphones,” he stated.

On the government’s resolve to use information technology to boost the economy and tackle insecurity, Pantami said: “We cannot ignore security. Security cannot be compromised, because of economic development. It should be our priority and preference and so, we have initiated several policies to support security institutions.”