NCC Registers 231m Devices, Warns Against Unapproved Phones

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has registered approximately 231 million telecommunications devices already operating on Nigerian networks as it steps up enforcement against counterfeit, cloned and unapproved phones.

The Commission said existing subscribers whose devices had already been captured by the system would not need to register again, while newly introduced devices must meet its verification requirements to access Nigerian telecommunications networks.

The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this during a media briefing on the implementation of the Device Checker and Type Approval Compliance framework in Abuja.

Ogoh explained that the initiative was designed to strengthen consumer protection, improve network performance and enable the regulator to identify devices entering the Nigerian market through unauthorised channels.

He said the Commission had automatically registered devices already connected to telecommunications networks before the system became operational, adding that the exercise was not intended to disconnect existing subscribers retrospectively.

“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, the Commission is strengthening checks on devices being imported and introduced into the country, with unapproved equipment liable to restrictions if it fails to meet applicable regulatory requirements.

The NCC is working with the Nigeria Customs Service, original equipment manufacturers, importers and relevant market associations to ensure that devices are authenticated before being sold. The system is also expected to help identify importers, import dates and quantities of devices, making it easier to trace non-compliant products.

The framework covers SIM-enabled equipment, including smartphones, feature phones, cellular tablets, modems, SIM-enabled laptops and Point of Sale terminals.

Under Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, communications equipment must obtain the required regulatory Type Approval before it can be sold or used in Nigeria.

The NCC issued its Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024, providing the regulatory basis for its current compliance drive. The latest initiative uses technology to make device identification and enforcement more efficient, rather than introducing an entirely new regulatory requirement.

The Commission has linked the exercise to efforts to address the circulation of counterfeit and faulty devices, which can fail to meet technical standards and potentially interfere with network performance.

Ogoh said device-related problems were among several factors affecting telecommunications service quality, alongside infrastructure limitations, insecurity and flooding. The verification system is expected to help the regulator identify equipment that does not meet required standards and prevent further non-compliant devices from entering the market.

Meanwhile, the rollout has raised concerns among some phone users who have received alerts warning that their devices could lose network access if verification requirements are not met. The NCC has advised consumers to check the status of devices before purchase and seek assistance where a verification result raises concerns.

Subscribers can check their devices by dialling *315# or visiting the Commission’s official Device Checker portal at www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceChecker. A phone’s 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number can be retrieved by dialling *#06#.

The NCC has also clarified that the system uses device identification information to verify regulatory compliance and does not provide access to users’ private messages, photographs or other personal content stored on their devices.

The Commission’s broader objective is to improve accountability across the telecommunications device supply chain, protect consumers from substandard equipment and ensure that devices connecting to Nigerian networks comply with prescribed technical standards.