Mobile phone traders in Nigeria have rejected proposed registration fees for newly imported devices under the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) device management system, warning that the charges could ultimately increase the cost of phones for consumers.
The Assoaiation of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria, said it supports the device registration system but opposed the financial component of the policy.
Key Highlights:
Traders support the DMS but reject the proposed registration fees.
They fear the fees will increase phone prices.
They want more consultation and trader training.
They request 3–6 months before enforcement.
They appealed to Minister Bosun Tijani to intervene.
The association’s President, Musa Mamza, stated this in Abuja on Thursday, saying manufacturers, distributors and dealers were unlikely to absorb the additional costs associated with registering imported devices.
According to him, the financial burden would eventually be passed on to consumers through higher prices.
“The companies that produce the devices refuse to say they will bear the cost, and so, the OEMs, dealers or distributors will be at the cost of paying that fee. Then they will transfer it to the end user,” Mamza said.
He urged the NCC to reconsider the proposed charges and intensify consultations with stakeholders before enforcing the payment component of the DMS.
“We are not against the policy. We are against some of the aspects which are detrimental to the industry. This is our concern,” he said.
The device management system is designed to provide the telecommunications regulator with a centralised mechanism for identifying and managing mobile devices connected to Nigerian telecommunications networks.
The system is also expected to help tackle the use of cloned and counterfeit devices and support efforts to address mobile-device-related fraud and network security concerns.
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However, the traders said the proposed financial obligations would place additional pressure on businesses operating across the mobile device supply chain.
Mamza also criticised what he described as inadequate sensitisation of traders ahead of the proposed implementation, saying many dealers had yet to receive sufficient information or training on the registration process.
He called on the NCC to launch a nationwide awareness campaign and provide practical training for mobile phone dealers and other operators
The association also said the initial timeframe for implementing the policy was inadequate, given the size and spread of Nigeria’s mobile device market.
Mamza called for a three-to-six-month sensitisation period before enforcement of the contentious aspects of the policy.
“This will give the NCC and other stakeholders enough time to educate the traders, explain the processes and address the concerns that have been raised,” he said.
The association said it has communicated its concerns to relevant authorities and is seeking further engagement with the NCC before the payment component of the DMS is enforced.
Mamza also appealed to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to intervene in the dispute.
“If the Minister of Communication is not aware, let him be aware and let him call the NCC to order. Let him do the right thing,” he said.
The traders warned that a poorly coordinated implementation could affect businesses and employment across the mobile device distribution chain, particularly if additional compliance costs were transferred to consumers and reduced demand.
They maintained that while device registration could help improve accountability within Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem, its implementation should take into consideration the financial impact on traders and consumers.
