Nigerians buying phones could find their new devices unable to connect to mobile networks if they do not meet the Nigerian Communications Commission’s verification requirements, the regulator has said.

The commission said its Device Checker system would help identify counterfeit, cloned and unapproved devices and prevent additional non-compliant equipment from accessing Nigerian networks.

However, phones already active on the networks before the system became operational would continue working, including those that might not meet current requirements.

The NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, said during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday that approximately 231 million existing devices had been captured in the system, with no additional registration required from their users.

“The subscriber does not have to do anything,” he said.

Mr Ogoh explained that the commission would not retrospectively blacklist existing devices because consumers who bought them previously did not have access to the verification tools now available.

“We are not blacklisting those that have come up before this,” he said.

Mr Ogoh said the checks also apply to other SIM-enabled equipment, including tablets, modems and PoS terminals.

How buyers can check devices

He said consumers can dial *315# to check a device’s status or use the commission’s online Device Checker.

According to Mr Ogoh, the USSD service allows users to check their current device or enter the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of another device they intend to purchase.

The IMEI can be found on a phone’s packaging or retrieved by dialling *#06# on the device.

He advised consumers to check before making payment and question sellers whose devices were not verified.

For buyers who probably discover the problem after buying, Mr Ogoh said they should approach the seller for a replacement. 

Unresolved complaints, including a seller’s refusal to replace a device, could be reported through the commission’s toll-free 315 helpline.

He also said consumers could use the helpline to seek assistance where a genuine device was wrongly flagged.

Mr Ogoh also said devices could be flagged for different reasons, including suppliers’ failure to complete the required processes.

Checks on importers and sellers

The official said the commission was working with the Nigeria Customs Service, manufacturers, importers and dealers to verify devices entering the country.

He explained that checks at the point of importation would be complemented by consumer verification, particularly for devices already in dealers’ stocks.

The system, he said, would allow the regulator to trace individual devices to their importers, establish when they entered Nigeria, and determine how many units were brought in.

He said this information could support enforcement where consumers complained about devices and sellers refused to address the problem.

The framework follows Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024 and consultations with stakeholders across the device supply chain.

According to the commission, Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 requires relevant service providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain type approval before communications equipment is sold or used in Nigeria.

Type approval establishes whether equipment meets the applicable technical and regulatory standards. Mr Ogoh said device models were subject to testing before approval.

He said the verification system would strengthen checks on individual units supplied to the market.

Network quality and privacy

The director said the commission’s assessments had identified device-related problems among the factors affecting service quality.

He said faulty devices could affect other subscribers using the same cell site, alongside problems arising from infrastructure damage, insecurity, flooding and other challenges.

Addressing privacy concerns, he said the system used device identification information and does not give the commission access to messages, photographs, contacts or financial information stored on phones.

“It is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices,” he said.