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 the source of livelihood for millions of people across the country.
The association said it supports 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 is 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 proceeds 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 is 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.