The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to tighten the monitoring of imported communication devices, in a move aimed at improving revenue generation, enhancing national security, and safeguarding consumers.
The agreement was reached during a recent courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, in Abuja.
Adeniyi noted that Customs is moving beyond revenue collection to tackle security risks linked to unregulated importation of mobile phones and telecom equipment. He said stronger collaboration with NCC would help align monitoring systems and regulatory standards.
The NCC boss highlighted the Commission’s Device Management System (DMS), which tracks imported phones and blocks substandard devices using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. “If a subscriber is using a substandard phone, no matter the investment operators make in their networks, service quality will remain poor. That is why the DMS project is critical,” Maida explained.
Maida also raised concerns about uncertified network boosters, warning that while they may temporarily improve signal, they often distort networks and degrade service quality. He urged Customs to restrict their importation to only approved devices.
The DMS platform will create a single control point for monitoring and managing devices connected to Nigerian networks under a Public-Private Partnership model. It is expected to cover the country’s estimated 200 million telecom subscribers.
Despite regulatory efforts, thousands of counterfeit phones still flood Nigerian markets each year, undermining both service quality and security. The strengthened collaboration aims to curb these leakages while boosting revenue.
