The Association of Mobile Communication Device Technicians of Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission to mandate mobile phone registration at the point of purchase.
According to the technicians, implementing such a policy would help combat phone theft and enhance security within the country’s mobile device industry.
The President of AMCODET, Mr. Kehinde Apara, made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
He stressed that phone registration would greatly deter theft by making it more difficult for criminals to resell stolen devices.
“Registration of mobile phones will reduce theft to the barest minimum, as it will be difficult for thieves to sell registered stolen phones,” Apara stated.
He further stated that mandatory registration would not only curb theft but also reduce the harassment of technicians.
According to him, many AMCODET members have been wrongly accused by security agencies of involvement in phone theft because stolen devices are frequently brought to them for repairs.
“We are calling for registration of new mobile phones because we believe it will also reduce harassment of our members by security agencies.
“So many of our members have been labelled accomplices in theft cases, because customers bring stolen phones to them to repair. We believe this is unfair to such innocent people,” he said.
Apara highlighted AMCODET’s efforts in promoting phone security initiatives, particularly the NIN-SIM linkage, designed to tackle insecurity and mobile theft.
While recognizing its benefits, he insisted that it was not enough to completely resolve the problem.
“The NIN-SIM linkage is the brainchild of AMCODET, noting that the idea was sold to the Nigerian Communications Commission to curb insecurity and theft, but that it is not enough,” he noted.
Beyond advocating for phone registration, Apara urged greater support from individuals and the private sector to strengthen Nigeria’s mobile phone industry.
He emphasized that the country has the potential to develop its own technology but needs collective backing from individuals and organizations to achieve this goal.
