WorldStage– The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPAT) has urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the newly introduced mobile phone registration fees for a grace period of 90 to 120 days.
Speaking through leadership representatives including National President Musa Mamza and one of the regional officials, Alhaji Sani Ibrahim, the association noted that it supports efforts by the NCC to register mobile devices under the Device Management System (DMS) to curb counterfeit and stolen phones.
However, AMPAT opposed the unilateral imposition of import and registration fees, reportedly around ₦4,000 per device, without adequate stakeholder engagement or clear legal backing.
Traders warned that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors, and dealers would not absorb the cost.
Instead, they said, financial burden would cascade directly to end-users, driving up the retail price of smartphones and basic handsets.
The escalation threatens low-income earners, students, and millions of young Nigerians who rely on affordable devices for daily communication, education, and digital inclusion.
AMPAT emphasized that the policy threatens livelihoods across the mobile supply chain, as according to it, millions of youths operating as small-scale shop owners, phone repairers, technicians, and apprentices risk losing their source of income if high costs depress market demand and force businesses to close.
The association outlined a five-point demand to the government and the NCC which are: a 90-to-120-day suspension of the registration fees and associated phone-blocking measures; transparent publication of the legal framework and exact fee schedules; direct and formal consultations with industry stakeholders and trader associations, a reliable appeal and resolution mechanism for users whose devices are wrongly flagged or blocked; and full compliance with the Nigerian Communications Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
AMPAT has also appealed to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to intervene and review the financial terms of the DMS rollout.
