Mobile phone dealers and other device traders under the Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria have rejected the proposed registration fees for newly imported devices under the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Device Management System.
The traders, however, said they were not opposed to the DMS, describing it as a useful mechanism for establishing a register of mobile devices connected to Nigerian telecommunications networks.
The President of the association, Musa Mamza, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, saying the group’s major concern was the financial obligation attached to the registration of newly imported devices.
Mamza warned that the proposed charges could ultimately be transferred to consumers as manufacturers, distributors and dealers would likely factor the additional 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,” he said.
He urged the NCC to reconsider the payment component of the policy and broaden consultations with industry stakeholders before enforcing the proposed charges.
“We are not against the policy. We are against some of the aspects which are detrimental to the industry. This is our concern,” Mamza added.
The association also expressed concern over what it described as inadequate sensitisation of traders ahead of the implementation of the DMS.
According to Mamza, many operators in the mobile device market had yet to receive adequate information or practical training on the system, including the registration requirements and procedures.
He therefore called on the commission to embark on a nationwide awareness campaign and provide practical training for dealers before enforcing the policy.
The traders further argued that the initial implementation timeframe was inadequate, considering the size and geographical spread of Nigeria’s mobile device market.
Mamza said thousands of distributors, retailers and other operators across the country would require sufficient time to understand the new requirements and prepare their businesses for compliance.
He consequently 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 had communicated its concerns to relevant authorities and was seeking further engagement with the NCC before implementation of 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 addressed.
“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 poorly coordinated implementation could have wider implications for businesses and employment across the mobile device distribution chain, particularly if additional compliance costs were passed on to consumers and subsequently affected demand.
The DMS is designed to provide the telecommunications regulator with a centralised mechanism for identifying and managing mobile devices operating on Nigerian networks.
Such systems can assist in identifying devices, combating cloned and counterfeit phones, and supporting efforts to address mobile-device-related fraud and network security concerns.
The traders maintained that while they recognised the potential benefits of the initiative, its implementation should take into account the financial and operational implications for businesses and consumers.
