The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has registered about 231 million telecommunications devices as it begins implementing a verification system aimed at blocking counterfeit, cloned and unapproved phones from accessing mobile networks.
The initiative is designed to strengthen consumer protection, improve network quality and enable regulators to track telecommunications devices imported and sold in Nigeria.
Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, disclosed this during a media briefing on the implementation of the Device Checker and Type Approval Compliance framework in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ogoh said devices already operating on Nigerian telecommunications networks had been automatically registered, meaning existing subscribers do not need to take additional steps to verify their phones.
“We had already registered about 231 million devices across the country. And those devices, basically, you don’t have to do anything. The subscriber does not have to do anything,” he said.
However, newly introduced devices must meet the commission’s verification requirements before they can access telecommunications networks.
The NCC said it would not retrospectively disconnect devices that were already connected before the new system became operational, including those that might not meet current approval standards.
“We are not blacklisting those that have come up before this,” Ogoh said, explaining that the decision protects consumers who purchased devices before the verification system was introduced.
The framework is, however, intended to prevent additional non-compliant devices from entering the telecommunications ecosystem.
The commission is also working with the Nigeria Customs Service, manufacturers, importers and dealers to authenticate devices before they enter the Nigerian market.
According to Ogoh, the system will help regulators identify importers, import dates and the quantities of individual devices, strengthening enforcement against counterfeit products.
Ogoh said counterfeit and faulty phones could contribute to poor telecommunications service because some devices interfere with network infrastructure and affect other subscribers connected to the same cell site.
He noted that the commission’s assessments had identified device-related problems alongside infrastructure limitations, insecurity, flooding and other factors affecting network performance.
The verification framework is expected to help the regulator identify non-compliant devices and prevent further entry into the market.
The initiative follows the introduction of the Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and consultations with industry stakeholders.
Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 requires telecommunications equipment to receive regulatory approval before it can be sold or used in Nigeria.
The commission has also sought to allay concerns that the new system could be used to monitor subscribers.
Ogoh stressed that the framework was not designed to monitor subscribers’ personal information.
“It is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices,” he said.
He explained that the system relies on device identification information rather than access to subscribers’ messages, photographs, contacts or financial records.
The NCC has advised consumers to use its verification channels to check whether their phones, tablets, modems and other SIM-enabled devices have received regulatory approval.
Subscribers can verify their devices by following these steps:
- Dial *#06# to retrieve the device’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.
- Dial *315# or visit the NCC’s Device Checker portal to check the device’s approval status.
- Contact the seller for a replacement if a newly purchased device is found to be unverified.
- Report unresolved complaints through the commission’s toll-free 315 helpline.
The NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, described the initiative as part of the commission’s broader efforts to improve telecommunications safety, network quality and consumer protection. She urged journalists to help educate the public about the changes.
The Head of Corporate Communications, Olasumbo Olawaiye, also called for sustained media engagement to support public awareness and implementation of the framework.
