The commission says the new verification system will authenticate SIM-enabled devices before they connect to Nigerian networks, urging consumers to check for type approval before making purchases……
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced electronic verification of telecommunications devices to identify and prevent fake, cloned and non-compliant equipment from connecting to networks across the country.
The initiative is part of efforts to tighten regulatory oversight of devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria, while improving network performance and protecting consumers from equipment that fails to meet approved technical standards.
The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this on Tuesday at a news conference on the commission’s technical standards and network integrity initiatives in Abuja.
Ogoh explained that the verification process would enable the regulator to authenticate devices against its type approval requirements, ensuring that equipment intended for the Nigerian market meets the necessary technical specifications.
Type approval is the regulatory process through which the NCC certifies that telecommunications equipment complies with established standards before it can be sold or used in the country.
“We have also ensured that devices currently in stock are appropriately onboarded and that devices imported into Nigeria going forward are properly verified and authenticated,” Ogoh said.
He added that the system would strengthen the commission’s ability to identify unauthorised equipment and prevent it from accessing telecommunications networks.
“This will provide a more effective mechanism for identifying non-compliant, cloned, or fake devices and prevent them from connecting to our networks,” he said.
According to the director, the initiative builds on the commission’s type approval business rules issued in August 2024, following consultations with original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecommunications operators, government agencies and industry associations.
He said the NCC had also collaborated with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders across the device supply chain to support the implementation of the framework.
Ogoh cited Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which requires communications equipment intended for sale or use in Nigeria to obtain type approval from the commission.
He said the enhanced verification process would strengthen compliance with the law and help ensure that devices connecting to local networks are compatible with telecommunications infrastructure.
The NCC director urged consumers to verify the approval status of devices before purchasing them, advising buyers to ask sellers whether their preferred equipment had received the regulator’s certification.
The recommendation covers smartphones, tablets, modems, point-of-sale terminals and other devices capable of connecting to mobile networks through SIM cards.
Ogoh warned that equipment that fails to meet technical requirements could create challenges for network performance and regulatory oversight, stressing that effective enforcement would help improve service reliability and consumer protection.
He said the commission would continue engaging manufacturers, importers, dealers and other stakeholders to ensure compliance and build public confidence in the devices available in the Nigerian market.
NCC: Verification System Will Not Access Personal Data
Addressing concerns about privacy, Ogoh said the electronic verification framework was designed strictly for regulatory compliance and would not give the commission access to personal information stored on users’ devices.
He explained that the system would use device identification details, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, to support authentication and enforcement.
“The objective of the initiative is regulatory compliance relating to communications devices. It is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices,” he said.
According to him, the framework does not provide access to users’ photographs, messages, contacts, financial information or the contents of their communications.
The clarification comes as the commission seeks to improve public understanding of the initiative and address concerns about how device identification information will be used.
Ogoh said the NCC would sustain public awareness campaigns and consultations to explain the framework and the responsibilities of consumers and businesses.
He added that successful implementation would require cooperation among government agencies, network operators, manufacturers, dealers, consumer groups and the media.
The commission, he said, remains committed to enforcing technical standards, strengthening network integrity and protecting telecommunications consumers as the sector continues to expand.
