By Zubairu Idris
Kano: The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders Association of Nigeria (AMPAT) in Kano has declared support for mobile phones registration introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The association however requested for 120 days grace to enable them sort out the registration policy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NCC has given an ultimatum to mobile phone dealers to register and authenticate SIM-enable devices in their stocks.
The measure is part of the enforcement framework to identify illegally imported and non-compliant phones.
Speaking to newsmen at a press conference on Saturday in Kano, the National Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association, Alhaji Sani Tasi’u-Ibrahim, said his members needed a period of grace to sort out the matter.
“Let me first say this clearly, so that nobody misquotes us. We want stolen phones to become useless. We want criminals to have nowhere to hide.
“We are not asking the government to abandon this policy.
“We are asking for five things: give us 120 days, stop the fees, stop the blockage, stop the threatening messages for 120 days while we sit down and sort this out together,” he said.
He urged the NCC to engage the stakeholders first, stressing that consultation should come before implementation.
Tasi’u-Ibrahim said their members were asked to pay a fee for every single phone they imported.
“About N670 for a small photo, and close to N4,000 for a big one, think about this.
“The device trade is not a small trade. Our members contribute billions of naira in revenue to this country every year through customs duties, through taxes, through every transaction in our markets,” he noted.
According to him, their members employed millions of youths across the country ranging from sales assistants, technicians, repairs, dealers, drivers, among others in the value chain.
He explained that they have taken the lawful route by writing to the NCC, the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the Kano State Governor on the need to listen to their demands.
“A policy that is meant to fight fake phones should not destroy the people who sell genuine ones, that is all we are saying,” he said.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
