In furtherance of its regulatory drive aimed at ensuring that standardized phones are marketed in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated a new measure of implementing a verification system to prevent counterfeit, cloned and unapproved devices from accessing mobile networks in the country.
This is even as it disclosed that approximately 231 million telecommunications devices had been registered across Nigeria,
The commission maintained that the initiative would strengthen consumer protection, improve network quality and enable regulators to track mobile devices imported and sold in the country.
The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, spoke on the new initiative on Tuesday in Abuja during a media briefing on the implementation of the Device Checker and Type Approval Compliance framework.
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He explained that devices already operating on Nigerian networks had been automatically captured, implying that existing subscribers will not need to undertake additional registration.
According to him, to ensure that the objectives of the regulatory step are achieved, the NCC is collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), manufacturers, importers and dealers to authenticate devices before they enter the nation’s telecoms market.
The industry expert said the system would enable regulators to identify device importers, dates of importation and quantities imported, thereby strengthening enforcement against suppliers of counterfeit products.
He clarified that imported counterfeit and faulty devices could contribute to poor network quality by interfering with telecommunications infrastructure and affecting other subscribers connected to the same cell site.
He said the latest initiative followed the introduction of the NCC’s Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and consultations with industry stakeholders.
Citing Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to justify the commission’s latest measure, Ogoh maintained that telecommunications equipment must obtain regulatory approval before being sold or used in the country.
The director advised Nigerians to dial *315# or visit the NCC’s Device Checker portal to verify whether their phones, tablets, modems and other SIM-enabled devices had received regulatory approval.
Similarly, he urged consumers, who purchased unverified devices to contact their sellers for replacements, adding that unresolved complaints could be reported through the commission’s toll-free 315 helpline.
On concerns about privacy, Ogoh assured subscribers that the verification system was not designed for surveillance and would not grant the commission access to personal information stored on their devices, stressing that the system relies on device identification information rather than private messages, photographs, contacts or financial records.
Earlier in her remarks, the Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, explained that the initiative was part of the commission’s efforts to improve telecommunications safety, network quality and consumer protection.
She urged journalists to educate Nigerians about the new requirements as public awareness remained essential to the successful implementation of the framework.
