Phone Traders Oppose ₦4,000 Import Fees, Demand 90-Day Suspension
The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPAT) has demanded a 90-day suspension of fees imposed on imported mobile phones, warning that the policy could force shops to close and threaten…
The dispute centres on a newly introduced fee regime for imported mobile phones, which traders say was rolled out without adequate consultation with the industry. Nigeria's device registration framework, typically tied to IMEI verification through the Nigerian Communications Commission, is meant to curb smuggling, counterfeiting and the circulation of stolen or substandard handsets, but importers and retailers have long complained that compliance costs are ultimately passed on to consumers in a market already squeezed by high exchange rates and import duties.
The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPAT) is pushing back against the charges, arguing they could erode margins, trigger shop closures and threaten jobs across the phone retail sector. Coverage varies on the specifics of the group's demand, with reports citing different suspension periods sought from the government, suggesting the exact terms of AMPAT's request — and how authorities plan to respond — are still unsettled.