Customs, NCC Strengthen Partnership on Device Monitoring, Security, and Public Safety
Oru Leonard
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have pledged to deepen their collaboration in monitoring imported communication devices, as part of efforts to boost revenue generation, strengthen national security, and protect public safety.
Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, gave this assurance on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, when he received the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, and his delegation on a courtesy visit to the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi noted that the Service was increasingly mindful of the security risks posed by unchecked importation of mobile devices and telecom equipment, stressing that a closer synergy with the NCC would help strengthen monitoring systems. He explained that items such as phones, network boosters, and other devices must be properly certified and classified under Customs’ tariff regime to ensure only authorized importers are permitted to bring them into the country.
Photo: Group photograph
“For both effective security and revenue, we will be committed to deepening collaboration with NCC,” the CGC stated, while also revealing plans to train Customs officers on device certification and align tariff codes with regulated equipment. He added that both agencies must also cooperate on broader public safety issues, especially in maintaining facilities in densely populated urban areas like Abuja, where the concentration of high-rise buildings, places of worship, and sensitive institutions calls for vigilance.
Earlier in his remarks, the NCC boss congratulated Adeniyi on his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing it as a mark of confidence in his leadership at home and abroad.
Maida further emphasized the importance of the NCC’s Device Management System (DMS), a platform designed to track imported phones and block substandard devices. He explained that the initiative would not only help Customs generate revenue but also enhance service quality 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 in networks, service quality will remain poor. That is why the DMS project is critical,” Maida said.
He also warned about the dangers of uncontrolled use of uncertified network boosters, which distort signals and affect network quality, calling for Customs’ support in restricting their importation. Both agencies pledged to sustain the spirit of collaboration to curb revenue leakages and protect consumers.
The Nigeria Customs Service is the government agency responsible for revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, and enforcement of import and export regulations across Nigeria’s borders. The Nigerian Communications Commission is the country’s independent regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry, charged with ensuring fair competition, consumer protection, quality service delivery, and the regulation of telecom devices and services.
