The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPATN) has referred to as on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to suspend the implementation of cellphone registration prices for 90 days, warning that the coverage might threaten hundreds of thousands of livelihoods throughout the nation.
The affiliation mentioned it supported efforts to register cell phones, remove counterfeit units and forestall using stolen telephones for felony actions, however expressed concern over the fees reportedly imposed on imported units.
Speaking at a press convention in Kano, AMPATN National President Sani Tasi’u Ibrahim, represented by the Kano State Chairman, Jamilu Bala Gama, mentioned the affiliation was involved in regards to the financial implications of the coverage for traders, technicians and unusual cellphone customers.
According to Ibrahim, traders are being requested to pay about N670 for every small cellphone and practically N4,000 for bigger units. He questioned the authorized foundation of the costs, the id of the corporate receiving the funds and the transparency of the payment construction.
AMPATN argued that the extra prices might improve cell phone costs, notably these of reasonably priced and refurbished units relied upon by low-income earners, college students and small enterprise house owners.
The affiliation famous that Nigeria’s cell phone commerce helps a broad community of companies, together with retail outlets, restore workshops, distribution firms and logistics operators, whereas offering employment alternatives for hundreds of thousands of younger folks.
Ibrahim warned that if the coverage proceeded with out satisfactory session and a overview of its monetary implications, small companies might wrestle to stay operational, doubtlessly leading to store closures and job losses.
The AMPATN president harassed that the affiliation’s opposition was not to cellphone registration itself, however to what it described as the dearth of readability surrounding the costs and the method for implementing the coverage.
The affiliation subsequently outlined 5 calls for, together with a 90-day suspension of the fees and phone-blocking measures to permit consultations with stakeholders.
It additionally referred to as on the NCC to publish the authorized provisions authorising the costs, alongside a clear payment schedule, and urged the fee to have interaction traders and different business stakeholders earlier than continuing with implementation.
The traders additional demanded an accessible attraction mechanism for cellphone house owners whose units is perhaps blocked mistakenly, together with circumstances involving professional repairs. They additionally referred to as for all enforcement measures to adjust to the Nigerian Communications Act and the Constitution.
The affiliation disclosed that it had written to the NCC, petitioned the Senate and the House of Representatives, and approached the Kano State Government in pursuit of a decision via lawful channels.
While interesting to the Federal Government, the National Assembly and different related authorities to intervene, the AMPATN president maintained that measures designed to fight counterfeit and stolen telephones mustn’t impose disproportionate burdens on professional companies and shoppers.
The affiliation urged the authorities to have interaction stakeholders and develop a clear framework that might obtain the targets of cellphone registration with out undermining employment, small-scale enterprises and entry to reasonably priced communication units.
Barrister Ibrahim Sule, the affiliation’s authorized officer, additionally mentioned AMPATN remained prepared to work with the federal government and related businesses to discover a mutually acceptable resolution that protected shoppers, supported professional traders and strengthened efforts to curb phone-related crimes.
