NCC Insists Device Verification Tool Protects Networks Without Invading Personal Privacy
Nigeria’s telecom regulator is setting the record straight on phone verification, assuring consumers that its Device Checker initiative cannot read messages, access photos, or track personal data.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, represented by Lagos Zonal Controller, Tunji Jimoh, emphasized that the platform is strictly a device identification and regulatory tool designed to protect the telecom ecosystem.
The regulator noted that as the digital economy expands, the Device Checker platform has become essential to curb the influx of counterfeit, cloned, and unauthorized mobile phones into the country.
Maida explained that recent engagements with importers and streamlined vendor licensing have already significantly boosted compliance across the device supply chain.
To prevent buyers from purchasing non-compliant hardware, the NCC has deployed a mobile application and online portal allowing consumers to check a phone’s IMEI status prior to purchase. Subscribers with inquiries or complaints are encouraged to contact the commission via its 315 toll-free line.
