The Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA) has said high customs duty on imported mobile phones is driving up prices and making the devices increasingly unaffordable for Nigerians. The association’s President, Mr Ebiem Samuel, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Samuel said the high duty had significantly increased the cost of importing mobile phones, making it difficult for dealers to offer devices at affordable prices. He explained that importers also incurred additional expenses, including logistics costs involved in moving the devices into the market, further increasing the final prices paid by consumers.
According to him, the rising cost of phones was putting pressure on consumers, particularly low-income earners who relied on mobile devices for communication, education and business.
He said reducing customs duty would enable importers to bring in phones at lower costs, which would ultimately translate into reduced prices and encourage more Nigerians to acquire smartphones.
The PAPDA president urged the Federal Government to review the customs duty regime on imported mobile phones, saying lower charges would stimulate sales, increase business activities and promote digital inclusion.
He added that mobile phones remained critical to connecting Nigerians to the internet and the wider world, stressing that affordable access to the devices was important for participation in the digital economy.
On local assembly of mobile phones, Samuel said Nigeria was not yet adequately prepared due to inadequate infrastructure. He urged the government to provide the necessary facilities and empower local players to make local assembly viable, while creating an enabling environment for local production and addressing the import-related costs affecting the sector.
