Nigerian phone traders demand suspension of registration fees

The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPATN) has called on the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend new mobile phone registration fees. While the association expressed support for the policy intended to track stolen devices and eliminate counterfeit phones, they requested a grace period of 90 to 120 days to manage the transition.

Traders reported being required to pay fees of approximately 670 naira for smaller devices and nearly 4,000 naira for larger ones. AMPATN warned that these additional costs could lead to higher consumer prices, impacting low-income citizens, students, and small business owners. The association also raised questions regarding the legal basis for the charges and the transparency of the fee structure.