The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to deepen collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to boost revenue generation, enhance national security, and safeguard public safety through stricter monitoring of imported communication devices.
Adeniyi made this known when he received the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, and his team on a courtesy visit to the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The Customs boss said the Service was expanding its focus beyond revenue collection to include the security implications of unregulated importation of mobile and communication devices. He stressed that closer synergy with the NCC would strengthen both agencies’ monitoring systems.
He explained that all technology-related imports — including mobile phones, network boosters, and other telecom equipment — must undergo proper certification and classification under the Customs tariff regime. According to him, such measures would ensure that only authorised importers bring these devices into the country.
Adeniyi disclosed that the Service would collaborate with the NCC to train Customs officers on certification processes and align tariff codes with regulated devices to prevent abuse at the borders.
“Both for effective security and revenue, we will be committed to deepening collaboration,” he stated.
The CGC also emphasised the need for cooperation in maintaining public safety in densely populated urban areas. He noted that the increasing number of high-rise buildings, places of worship, and sensitive institutions in Abuja calls for joint vigilance and knowledge sharing between both agencies to avert potential disasters.
Earlier, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, congratulated Adeniyi on his recent election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing it as a testament to his leadership both locally and internationally.
Maida said the NCC’s Device Management System (DMS), which tracks imported phones and blocks substandard devices, would help Customs boost revenue and enhance service quality across the telecom sector.
“One of the least understood factors affecting service quality is the device itself. If a subscriber uses a substandard phone, no matter the investment made by operators, service quality will remain poor. That is why the DMS project is critical,” he explained.
He also raised concerns about the unregulated use of network boosters, which often distort signals and degrade network quality, calling for Customs’ support in restricting the importation of uncertified boosters.
Maida assured that the NCC remains committed to sustaining the spirit of collaboration with Customs to tackle the dual challenges of revenue leakages and consumer protection.
