The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has registered about 231 million telecommunications devices across Nigeria as it introduces a verification system to prevent counterfeit, cloned and unapproved devices from accessing mobile networks.
The commission said the initiative would strengthen consumer protection, improve network quality and help track devices imported and sold in the country.
The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, 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 networks had been automatically captured, meaning existing subscribers would not need to register them again.
However, newly introduced devices must meet the commission’s verification requirements before gaining access to telecommunications networks.
He explained that previously connected devices, including those that might not meet current approval standards, would not be disconnected retrospectively.
“We are not blacklisting those that have come up before this,” he said, adding that the decision was intended to protect consumers who bought devices without access to verification tools.
The new framework is designed to prevent additional non-compliant devices from entering the telecommunications ecosystem.
According to Ogoh, the NCC is working with the Nigeria Customs Service, manufacturers, importers and dealers to ensure that devices are authenticated before entering the Nigerian market.
The system will also enable regulators to identify device importers, dates of importation and quantities, strengthening efforts to combat counterfeit products.
Ogoh said the initiative followed the introduction of the Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and consultations with industry stakeholders.
He noted that Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 requires telecommunications equipment to obtain regulatory approval before being sold or used in Nigeria.
The NCC director also warned that counterfeit devices could contribute to poor network quality, as faulty equipment may interfere with telecommunications infrastructure and affect other subscribers connected to the same cell site.
He said the commission had identified device-related issues alongside infrastructure challenges, insecurity and flooding as factors affecting network performance.
To verify their devices, Nigerians can dial *315# or visit the NCC’s Device Checker portal to confirm whether their phones, tablets, modems and other SIM-enabled devices have been approved.
Consumers can retrieve their devices’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers by dialling *#06#.
Ogoh advised subscribers who purchased unverified devices to contact their sellers for replacements. Those whose complaints remain unresolved can call the commission’s toll-free 315 helpline.
Addressing concerns about surveillance, he said the verification system would not give the regulator access to 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 and does not access private messages, photographs, contacts or financial records.
Earlier, the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, described the initiative as part of efforts to improve telecommunications safety, network quality and consumer protection.
She urged journalists to educate Nigerians about the new requirements, stressing that public awareness would be essential to the framework’s successful implementation.
The Head of Corporate Communications, Olasumbo Olawaiye, also called for sustained media engagement and public education on the initiative.