Phone traders urge FG, NCC to suspend registration fees for 90 days

The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPATN) has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the implementation of phone registration charges for 90 days, warning that the policy could threaten millions of livelihoods across the country.

The association said it supported efforts to register mobile phones, eliminate counterfeit devices and prevent the use of stolen phones for criminal activities, but expressed concern over the fees reportedly imposed on imported devices.

Speaking at a press conference in Kano, AMPATN National President Sani Tasi’u Ibrahim, represented by the Kano State Chairman, Jamilu Bala Gama, said the association was concerned about the economic implications of the policy for traders, technicians and ordinary phone users.

According to Ibrahim, traders are being asked to pay about N670 for each small phone and nearly N4,000 for larger devices. He questioned the legal basis of the charges, the identity of the company receiving the payments and the transparency of the fee structure.

AMPATN argued that the additional costs could increase mobile phone prices, particularly those of affordable and refurbished devices relied upon by low-income earners, students and small business owners.

The association noted that Nigeria’s mobile phone trade supports a broad network of businesses, including retail shops, repair workshops, distribution companies and logistics operators, while providing employment opportunities for millions of young people.

Ibrahim warned that if the policy proceeded without adequate consultation and a review of its financial implications, small businesses could struggle to remain operational, potentially resulting in shop closures and job losses.

The AMPATN president stressed that the association’s opposition was not to phone registration itself, but to what it described as the lack of clarity surrounding the charges and the process for implementing the policy.

The association therefore outlined five demands, including a 90-day suspension of the fees and phone-blocking measures to allow consultations with stakeholders.

It also called on the NCC to publish the legal provisions authorising the charges, alongside a transparent fee schedule, and urged the commission to engage traders and other industry stakeholders before proceeding with implementation.

The traders further demanded an accessible appeal mechanism for phone owners whose devices might be blocked mistakenly, including cases involving legitimate repairs. They also called for all enforcement measures to comply with the Nigerian Communications Act and the Constitution.

The association disclosed that it had written to the NCC, petitioned the Senate and the House of Representatives, and approached the Kano State Government in pursuit of a resolution through lawful channels.

While appealing to the Federal Government, the National Assembly and other relevant authorities to intervene, the AMPATN president maintained that measures designed to combat counterfeit and stolen phones should not impose disproportionate burdens on legitimate businesses and consumers.

The association urged the authorities to engage stakeholders and develop a transparent framework that would achieve the objectives of phone registration without undermining employment, small-scale enterprises and access to affordable communication devices.

Barrister Ibrahim Sule, the association’s legal officer, also said AMPATN remained willing to work with the government and relevant agencies to find a mutually acceptable solution that protected consumers, supported legitimate traders and strengthened efforts to curb phone-related crimes.