Minister of Industry, Trade and
Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, has described the 200million capacity sim
card production plant of Secure ID Limited in Lagos as a demonstration of
Federal Government’s economic diversification and backward
integration
initiative.
He made the assertion while
commissioning the SIM card plant plant
which was set up with financial support from the Bank of Industry (BoI) to
drive local export in the telecoms sector.
Enelamah who described the
facility as of world class standard, reiterated government’s commitment to
deepen partnership with the private sector to realise its goals in all aspects
of diversification, job creation and industrialisation. He expressed confidence
in the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians,
noting that with conducive business atmosphere and necessary financial
support Nigerian entrepreneurs can reveal their prowess.
“One of the things we need to get
right is the whole area enabling environment. Creating the right investment
climate, ease of doing business for private sector for Nigerian businesses to prosper.
“We are very committed in the
area of financing. I want to acknowledge the BoI for their support for Secure
ID and many other players and they have our full support to actually assist the
industrialisation of Nigeria. We will be backing the likes of BoI and even the
development bank that is coming up, “he said.
Unveiling the SecureID SIMCard
brand, Minister of Communications, Adebayo
Shittu, said efforts within the telecoms sphere would be garnered to
ensure the home-grown company thrives.
He charged telecoms players such
as MTN, Glo, Airtel, and Etisalat among others to encourage local production by
engaging the firm to produce their SIM cards.
“I believe we must not limit it to Nigeria;we must also spread to
other countries,” he said.
Acting Managing Director, BoI,
Waheed Olagunju, who applauded the investment decision, said the venture was
supported based on its potential to positively impact domestic consumption, aid
technology transfer and adduce employment opportunities in the sector.
“When we support projects, we do
not only look at the financial viability of such projects. We look at the
potential development impact and multiplier effect. The facility we have
commissioned today is the first of its kind in Africa for the production of SIM
cards that are hitherto imported. There is also in country technology and
know-how that would be transferred in the process.”
Also speaking, the Chief Executive,
Secure ID, Kofo Akinkugbe, said the feat was achieved despite the difficulties
stifling the establishment of manufacturing lines in the country.
She commended the development
efforts and advisory backing of the Bank of Industry which was key to achieving
the feat.
She hinted that Secure ID
currently holds a global endorsement to service the huge network of SIMcard
users across 19 African countries.
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