The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has committed to deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enhance revenue generation, safeguard national security, and improve consumer protection by tightening the monitoring of imported communication devices.
Comptroller-General Adeniyi made the pledge in Abuja while receiving the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, and his team.
Focus on Security and Revenue
Adeniyi emphasised that the NCS is now looking beyond just revenue to consider the security implications of the unchecked importation of mobile and telecommunications devices. He stressed that closer synergy with the NCC is essential to strengthen their monitoring systems.
Key areas of collaboration announced include:
- Tighter Regulation of Imports: Technology-related imports, such as mobile phones, network boosters, and other telecom equipment, must be subjected to proper certification and classification under the Customs’ tariff regime. This measure aims to ensure that only authorised importers can bring these devices into the country.
- Training and Alignment: The NCS will work with the NCC to train its officers on certification processes and align tariff codes with regulated devices to curb abuses at the borders, with a commitment to deepening collaboration for “effective security and revenue.”
- Broader Safety: Adeniyi also highlighted the need for shared vigilance and learning to prevent disasters, citing the high concentration of buildings, places of worship, and sensitive institutions in urban areas like Abuja.
NCC’s Role: Consumer Protection and Device Tracking
The NCC boss, Aminu Maida, assured the Customs Service that the partnership would benefit both agencies and consumers:
- Device Management System (DMS): Maida noted that the NCC’s DMS—a platform designed to track imported phones and block substandard devices—will not only help Customs boost revenue but is crucial for enhancing the quality of service for telecom subscribers. He explained that a substandard phone can render network investment useless for the user.
- Uncontrolled Network Boosters: Maida also raised concerns over the uncontrolled importation and use of network boosters, which, while sometimes individually helpful, often distort signals and reduce overall network quality. He called for Customs’ support in restricting the entry of uncertified boosters.
Both leaders affirmed their commitment to sustaining the spirit of collaboration to tackle the dual challenges of revenue leakage and consumer protection in the nation.
