Pat Stevens/
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to regulate the importation of mobile phones, network boosters, and other telecom equipment in order to curb revenue leakages, protect consumers, and improve service quality.
NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Maida explained that the Commission’s Device Management System (DMS) was created to track imported phones and block substandard devices from entering the Nigerian market.
He noted that poor-quality handsets remain one of the least understood causes of poor network service for subscribers, regardless of how much operators invest in infrastructure.
“One of the least understood factors affecting service quality is the device itself. If a subscriber is using a substandard phone, no matter the investment operators make in their networks, service quality will remain poor. That is why the DMS project is critical,” Maida said.
He also raised concern over the unchecked importation of uncertified network boosters, which, though sometimes useful to individuals, often distort signals and degrade overall network quality.
He urged Customs to help enforce restrictions on such devices to ensure only certified ones enter the country.
Responding, Adeniyi pledged Customs’ commitment to deepening synergy with the NCC, saying the Service was already looking beyond revenue generation to the wider security risks posed by unregulated technology imports.
He said Customs would work with the NCC to align tariff codes with regulated devices, train its officers on certification processes, and ensure that only authorised importers are permitted to bring in telecom equipment.
“Both for effective security and revenue, we will be committed to deepening collaboration,” Adeniyi assured.
The Customs chief also emphasised the need for cooperation in protecting public safety, especially in urban centres like Abuja where high-rise buildings, places of worship, and sensitive institutions demand stricter oversight.
Maida, meanwhile, congratulated Adeniyi on his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing it as recognition of his leadership both in Nigeria and internationally.
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