The Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering revenue generation, national security, and consumer protection. This collaborative effort seeks to improve the monitoring and regulation of imported communication devices, thereby ensuring compliance with established standards and regulations.
This was disclosed by the agencies during a courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, at the Customs House in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized the importance of synergy between the two agencies to strengthen monitoring systems and prevent security threats. Adeniyi disclosed that the Service was looking beyond revenue to the security implications of unchecked importation of mobile devices.
The partnership will focus on several key areas, including device certification and regulation. The Customs Service will work with the NCC to ensure proper certification and classification of technology-related imports, such as mobile phones and network boosters, under the Customs’ tariff regime. This measure is expected to prevent unauthorized devices from entering the country.
The NCC’s Device Management System (DMS), a platform designed to track imported phones and block substandard devices, will help Customs boost revenue and enhance the quality of service for telecom subscribers.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, one of the least understood factors affecting service quality is the device itself. He said “If a subscriber is using a substandard phone, no matter the investment operators make in their networks, service quality will remain poor”.
The agencies assured that the partnership will also seek to address concerns over the uncontrolled use of network boosters, which, though sometimes helpful to individuals, often distort signals and reduce overall network quality. The agencies promised to work together to restrict the importation of uncertified boosters and ensure only approved devices enter the market.
In addition to revenue generation and security, the partnership will prioritize consumer protection. By ensuring that only approved devices enter the market, the agencies aimed to protect consumers from substandard products.
The partnership will also involve capacity building for Customs officers on certification processes and aligning tariff codes with regulated devices to curb abuses at the borders.
The Comptroller-General of Customs further highlighted the growing need for cooperation in maintaining facilities in highly populated urban areas, particularly in Abuja, where high-rise buildings, places of worship, and sensitive institutions demand vigilance and shared learning between both agencies.
In his closing remarks, NCC Boss,Maida emphasized that the partnership would be sustained to tackle the dual challenges of revenue leakages and consumer protection, assured that the NCC would work closely with Customs to achieve these objectives.
This development was coming as CGC Adeniyi was recently elected as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, a recognition of his leadership both at home and abroad. The partnership between the Customs Service and the NCC is expected to yield significant benefits, including improved revenue collection, enhanced security, and better service quality for telecom subscribers.
