The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has partnered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve the monitoring of imported communication devices. This collaboration aims to boost revenue, enhance national security, and protect public safety. The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, to the NCS headquarters in Abuja. Customs Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi emphasized the need for stricter regulations on mobile phones and telecom equipment to prevent security risks associated with unregulated imports.
As part of this partnership, NCS will train its officers on how to certify and classify technology-related imports under the customs tariff system. This process will ensure that only authorized importers can bring devices into the country. The NCC’s Device Management System (DMS) will also play a key role in tracking imported phones and blocking substandard devices, which can degrade the quality of telecom services for consumers.
The NCC has been working to combat the influx of counterfeit and low-quality phones in Nigeria. They plan to use the unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) to track and blacklist uncertified devices. This project, operating under a Public-Private Partnership model, is designed to cover Nigeria’s estimated 200 million telecom subscribers, aiming to enhance service quality and consumer protection in the telecom sector.
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