Nigeria smartphone prices may rise due to new registration fees

The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPAT) has warned that new registration fees for imported smartphones could lead to price increases for consumers. The fees are part of a Device Management System (DMS) introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to create a registry of devices connected to national telecommunications networks.

While AMPAT supports the principle of the DMS, its president, Musa Mamza, expressed concern that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers may pass the additional costs down the supply chain. This poses a risk to digital inclusion, as smartphone affordability is already a significant barrier in Nigeria. According to GSMA data, while the median cost of an entry-level smartphone fell to $18 in 2024, the depreciation of the naira and rising living costs have maintained high barriers to entry. For the poorest 20 per cent of Nigerians, an entry-level device costs approximately 73 per cent of their monthly income.

AMPAT has requested a three- to six-month delay in implementing the financial aspects of the system and has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to intervene and seek a review of the fees. The NCC has not yet issued a public response to these concerns.