Telecommunications device manufacturers and importers have asked the Nigerian Communications Commission to extend the implementation timeline for the Device Management System and clarify unresolved issues surrounding the new regime.
The DMS is designed as a central equipment register that checks the International Mobile Equipment Identity of SIM-enabled devices against records of stolen, cloned, counterfeit or non-type-approved equipment before network activation.
Under the proposed system, importers will be required to upload IMEI and invoice information, pay applicable device fees and obtain a DMS certificate before customs clearance.
The process will sit alongside existing import requirements including Form M, SONCAP, tax and customs procedures.
The NCC had informed industry participants that existing stock already held in Nigerian warehouses could be onboarded free of charge within a limited grace period.
Stakeholders, however, said the upload window was too short and could leave importers with dispatched shipments facing unexpected costs.
They also asked the Commission to clarify how appeals would be handled where an IMEI is damaged through legitimate repairs or software problems.
Another concern involves refurbished and second-hand devices, where board replacement or repair work may affect authentication.
Stakeholders also raised questions about the impact on micro-importers and small dealers who bring in limited quantities of devices.
The NCC’s position, according to the supplied report, is that licensing requirements would apply regardless of import volume.
Device makers said that approach could push some smaller operators out of the formal market if compliance costs became too high.
They also requested clearer information about technician training, financial implications and the treatment of informal or grey-market supply channels.
The stakeholders said they supported the objective of the DMS but wanted implementation to be phased and sufficiently clear to avoid unnecessary disruption.
The debate centers on balancing consumer protection and device security with compliance costs and the practical realities of Nigeria’s handset market.
