Mobile Phone Traders Reject NCC’s Proposed Device Registration Fees

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

The traders said their objection was not to the Device Management System itself, which they acknowledged as a useful platform for keeping a record of mobile devices connected to telecommunications networks in Nigeria.

Their concern, according to the association, is the financial burden that would come with registering newly imported devices and the likely impact on consumers.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the association’s president, Musa Mamza, said the additional charges would likely be passed down the supply chain, as manufacturers, distributors and dealers could factor the cost into the prices of mobile phones and other devices.

“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 called on the NCC to review the proposed payment requirement and engage more extensively with industry operators before proceeding with its enforcement.

“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.

Beyond the financial component, Mamza expressed concern about the level of preparation among traders ahead of the proposed implementation, saying many players in the mobile device market had not received adequate information or practical guidance on how the system would work.

He urged the commission to launch a nationwide sensitisation programme and organise practical training for dealers, particularly on the registration process and compliance requirements.

The association also faulted the initial implementation timeline, arguing that the scale of Nigeria’s mobile device market made a longer preparation period necessary.

Mamza said the numerous traders, distributors and retailers operating across the country needed sufficient time to understand the requirements and adjust their businesses before enforcement.

He therefore 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 already presented its concerns to the relevant authorities and was seeking further discussions with the commission over the payment component of the DMS.

Mamza also appealed to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to intervene and ensure that the concerns raised by mobile phone traders were properly considered.

“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, particularly if compliance costs were passed on to consumers and resulted in weaker demand.

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

Such systems can help regulators identify devices, tackle the use of cloned or counterfeit phones and support measures aimed at addressing mobile-device-related fraud and network security concerns.

The association maintained that while it recognised the potential benefits of the initiative, its implementation should take into account the interests of businesses and consumers, especially where the financial implications of compliance remain a concern.