The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have pledged to deepen collaboration to boost revenue, enhance national security, and safeguard public safety through stricter monitoring of imported communication devices.
Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, made the commitment on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, while receiving the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, and his team on a courtesy visit at Customs Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi stressed that the Service was looking beyond revenue generation to address the security risks posed by unchecked importation of mobile devices. He noted that closer synergy with the NCC would strengthen monitoring systems and ensure compliance.
“Technology-related imports such as mobile phones, network boosters, and other telecom equipment must be properly certified and classified under the Customs tariff regime. This ensures that only authorised importers can bring them into the country,” he said.
The CGC added that Customs would collaborate with the NCC to train officers on certification processes and align tariff codes with regulated devices. According to him, the measure would not only block abuses at the borders but also protect consumers and the economy.
On public safety, Adeniyi pointed to the need for cooperation in maintaining facilities in densely populated urban areas, citing Abuja’s high-rise buildings, places of worship, and sensitive institutions as requiring greater vigilance and joint monitoring.
In his remarks, Maida congratulated Adeniyi on his recent election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing it as a recognition of his leadership locally and globally.
He highlighted the NCC’s Device Management System (DMS), a platform developed to track imported phones and block substandard devices, noting that it would help Customs strengthen revenue collection and improve telecom service quality.
“One of the least understood factors affecting service quality is the device itself. 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.
He also raised concerns about the unregulated use of network boosters, which often distort signals and degrade network performance, urging Customs to help restrict the importation of uncertified boosters.
Both leaders affirmed their commitment to sustaining inter-agency collaboration to curb revenue leakages, protect consumers, and strengthen national security.
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