Customs, NCC strengthen alliance to tackle revenue leakages, consumer protection

“Both for effective security and revenue, we will be committed to deepening collaboration” 

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) and the NCC have agreed to work together to curb abuses in the importation of mobile devices, network boosters, and other telecom equipment.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who made the disclosure on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, when he received the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, and his entourage on a courtesy visit at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja stated that the collaboration will ensure only authorised importers bring them into the country.

Adeniyi said the Service was already looking beyond revenue to the security implications of unchecked importation of mobile devices, stressing that closer synergy with the NCC would allow both agencies to strengthen their monitoring systems.

He explained that technology-related imports, such as mobile phones, network boosters, and other telecom equipment, must be subjected to proper certification and classification under the Customs’ tariff regime, noting that such measures would ensure only authorised importers are permitted to bring them into the country.

The CGC highlighted that the Service would work with NCC to train its officers on certification processes and align tariff codes with regulated devices to curb abuses at the borders, adding, “Both for effective security and revenue, we will be committed to deepening collaboration.”

On broader safety issues, the CGC noted the growing need for cooperation in maintaining facilities in highly populated urban areas. He observed that the concentration of high-rise buildings in Abuja, coupled with places of worship and sensitive institutions, demands vigilance and shared learning between both agencies to prevent disasters.

Earlier, the NCC boss congratulated Adeniyi on his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing it as recognition of his leadership both at home and abroad.

Maida emphasised that the NCC’s Device Management System, a platform designed to track imported phones and block substandard devices, would not only help Customs boost revenue but also enhance the quality of service for telecom subscribers.

“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,” he said.

He also expressed concerns about the uncontrolled use of network boosters, which, while occasionally beneficial to individuals, frequently disrupt signals and compromise overall network quality.

Maida urged Customs to support efforts to restrict the importation of uncertified boosters, ensuring that only approved devices enter the market.

Additionally, he emphasized the need for both agencies to maintain the existing “spirit of collaboration,” assuring that the NCC would work closely with Customs to address the dual challenges of revenue leakage and consumer protection.