Importers that bring in substandard phones into Nigeria will be prosecuted, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has warned.

Amid an influx of such equipment through the country’s borders, the agency has said it has briefed all its personnel at various entry points to monitor the entry of the products into the country.

Chinonso Onyima, NCS deputy superintendent of customs, said the constant “invading of the country by smugglers” would not deter the organisation, which he said was “battle-ready” to combat the trend.

“The Nigeria Customs Service will not rest on its oars to see that such ugly experiences are contained. We will do everything possible to ensure that importers of such equipments are dealt with,” said Onyima

He added that the service has upgraded its facilities to ensure speedy clearance of goods.

He said that subsequently smugglers and importers have found it more difficult to exploit loopholes to import sub-standard product into the country.

“With the modern equipments we have installed, clearing of goods is now more convenient and seamless.

"This is a means of aiding the IT companies and their counterparts in other sectors to feel at home while doing business. We shall continue to improve,” he said

He said the NCS supported initiatives by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to rid the country of unapproved equipment, mostly mobile phones.

Onyima said that it was the duty of customs to regulate all incoming and outgoing cargoes in the country.

“Currently, the government does not ban telecommunication equipment but substandards are everywhere.

"We must stop this trend. As a nation, we cannot afford to open our corridors to serve as dumping ground of fake and substandard products. We are witnesses of mobile phones you buy from the market today, the next day it develops major problem,” added Onyima.