The Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA) has pledged to deepen collaboration with regulators as phone dealers grapple with persistent foreign exchange volatility and rising import costs.
The commitment was made on Wednesday in Lagos during the swearing-in of the association’s new executives, where the newly inaugurated President, Mr. Ebiem Samuel, identified exchange rate instability as one of the most pressing challenges facing phone dealers in Nigeria.
Forex volatility hits dealers
Samuel said the unpredictable movement of the naira against foreign currencies had made pricing difficult for traders and exposed many dealers to losses.
According to him, dealers often purchase devices at one exchange rate only to face higher rates within days, forcing businesses to either absorb losses or adjust prices in a volatile market.
“Forex is a very big challenge. We buy at one rate today and at a higher rate the next week. There is no stability,” he said.
He also pointed to high customs duties on imported mobile phones and accessories as another factor pushing up prices in the market.
Partnership with regulators
Samuel stressed that closer engagement with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) would be critical to improving market standards and protecting consumers.
He noted that PAPDA had maintained regular communication with the commission and encouraged members to cooperate fully whenever summoned by regulators.
“Once the FCCPC summons any of our members, they will honour the invitation. We send our task force to accompany them, and issues are resolved amicably,” he said.
The association plans to organise a stakeholders’ engagement that will allow the commission to sensitise traders on consumer protection regulations and compliance requirements.
Call for compliance and consumer protection
In her remarks, the FCCPC South West Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Olubunmi Otti, called for sustained cooperation between traders and regulators to ensure fair competition and better consumer outcomes.
She said the commission remained focused on protecting consumer interests and promoting responsible business practices.
“We want to work together in the interest of consumers. The message is clear, quality products and quality service,” Otti said, urging traders to take collective responsibility in maintaining a compliant and thriving marketplace.
Tackling substandard devices
Former PAPDA President, Mr. Ifeanyi Akubue, said the association had maintained long standing engagement with regulators since the days of the Consumer Protection Council.
- He added that PAPDA had also worked with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to curb the influx of substandard mobile devices and accessories into the country.
- Akubue revealed that representatives of the association once travelled to Shenzhen, China, alongside SON officials to meet manufacturers and communicate Nigeria’s quality standards.
- According to him, some foreign traders bypass authorised dealers and supply products directly to street vendors, a development he said contributes to the proliferation of counterfeit devices.
- He urged consumers to patronise registered stores and always request invoices when purchasing devices.
In his goodwill message, National President of the Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPAT), Mr. Musa Mamza, called for stronger collaboration among phone dealers across the country.
Mamza disclosed that discussions were ongoing regarding PAPDA’s possible integration into AMPAT’s national structure while preserving its identity.
He said the move could strengthen the collective voice of dealers, expand business opportunities and provide better protection for members.
“We believe that together we can protect our members from exploitation, expand business opportunities and create sustainable structures for future generations,” he said.
The newly inaugurated PAPDA executives include Samuel Ebiem as President, Johnson Nnakife as Vice President, Onyeka Agbasi as Chief Whip, Germanus Anyika as Public Relations Officer, and Kabir Olaniyi as Treasurer.
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