Phone dealers reject NCC device registration fees

Mobile phone dealers under the Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria have rejected proposed registration fees for newly imported devices under the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Device Management System.

The association, speaking in Abuja on Thursday, said the charges could increase the cost of mobile phones as manufacturers, distributors and dealers would likely pass the financial burden to consumers.

The traders said they were not opposed to the DMS itself, which they acknowledged as useful for keeping records of mobile devices connected to Nigerian telecommunications networks.

However, the association’s President, Musa Mamza, said the proposed payment requirement could hurt businesses and consumers.

“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 review the proposed charge and engage industry operators before enforcing the disputed component of the policy.

“We are not against the policy. We are against some of the aspects which are detrimental to the industry. This is our concern,” he added.

Mamza also raised concerns about the level of preparedness among traders, saying many operators had yet to receive adequate information or practical guidance on the implementation of the system.

He called for nationwide sensitisation and practical training for dealers, particularly on registration procedures and compliance requirements.

The association also faulted the initial implementation timeline.

Mamza argued that the size of Nigeria’s mobile device market required a longer preparation period for traders, distributors and retailers to understand the requirements and adjust their operations.

He proposed a three-to-six-month sensitisation period before the disputed aspects of the policy are implemented.

“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 had presented its concerns to the relevant authorities and was seeking further discussions with the NCC over the payment component of the DMS.

Mamza also appealed to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to intervene.

“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 stated.

He warned that poor coordination of the policy could affect businesses and jobs across the mobile device supply chain.

According to him, higher compliance costs could eventually be passed to consumers and weaken demand for mobile devices.

The DMS is designed to provide the telecommunications regulator with a centralised system for identifying and managing mobile devices connected to Nigerian networks.

The association acknowledged that such a system could help address cloned and counterfeit devices as well as mobile-device-related fraud and network security concerns.

However, the traders maintained that implementation should balance regulatory objectives with the interests of businesses and consumers, particularly where compliance could impose additional financial costs.