NCC, Customs take phone enforcement drive to Nigeria’s borders

The telecoms regulator said the technology-enabled enforcement process is designed to ensure that devices manufactured, imported, distributed or sold in Nigeria meet applicable regulatory and technical standards.

The NCC made this known in a notice to manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers of SIM-enabled devices, reminding Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs) and other industry stakeholders of their obligations under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, the Type Approval Regulations 2024 and the Type Approval Business Rules 2024, in a statement made available to Technology Times.

The telecoms regulator said it is “strengthening the monitoring and enforcement of these existing requirements through technology-enabled verification” to ensure that devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria comply with applicable standards. Under the compliance framework, all device models intended for importation, assembly, distribution or sale in Nigeria must obtain the required NCC Type Approval, the commission said.

The telecoms regulator said it is “strengthening the monitoring and enforcement of these existing requirements through technology-enabled verification” to ensure that devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria comply with applicable standards.

Under the compliance framework, all device models intended for importation, assembly, distribution or sale in Nigeria must obtain the required NCC Type Approval, the commission said.

It cited Section 132 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and Regulation 4 of the Type Approval Regulations 2024 as the basis for the requirement.

The commission said OEMs, ODMs, importers and other responsible suppliers must ensure that the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) information of individual devices is submitted through the approved compliance process for verification before the devices are sold or distributed.

The requirement brings individual devices into the compliance process, alongside the existing Type Approval requirement for device models.

The NCC also directed distributors, dealers and retailers to confirm that devices already in their possession meet the applicable Type Approval and device-verification requirements. It advised businesses with existing stock to work with their suppliers to resolve any outstanding compliance issues.

For new imports, the NCC said devices entering Nigeria must satisfy the applicable Type Approval and device-verification requirements before being placed on the market. Under the plan, the commission said it has engaged OEMs, ODMs, importers and relevant industry associations as part of what it described as its “participatory regulatory approach.”

Businesses that have not participated in the engagements or are uncertain about the compliance process were encouraged to seek guidance through the Commission’s approved onboarding and support channels.

The NCC’s notice places compliance responsibilities across the device supply chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, dealers and retailers. For businesses already holding inventory, it specifically urged them to establish whether the devices in stock meet the applicable requirements before selling or distributing them.

A key element of the enforcement initiative is collaboration between the NCC and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The automated Type Approval Compliance process will strengthen its oversight of devices entering the Nigerian market and improve its ability to identify potential irregularities in their importation and distribution, according to the NCC. Its collaboration with Customs will also support “the reconciliation of import records, compliance with applicable duties, and fair competition.”

The arrangement, according to the NCC, is intended to ensure that businesses complying with their regulatory obligations are not disadvantaged by businesses that do not.

The commission did not provide details in the notice on the specific technical mechanism for reconciling individual IMEI records with Customs import records or when full implementation of the automated process will begin.

The NCC said the enforcement process could ultimately affect whether non-compliant devices are able to connect to Nigerian telecommunications networks.

“Upon full implementation, devices that fail to meet the applicable requirements may be restricted from accessing Nigerian mobile telecommunications networks, in accordance with the approved enforcement framework,” the commission said.

The statement does not indicate that all devices currently operating on Nigerian networks will immediately be blocked. Instead, the NCC linked possible network restrictions to the full implementation of the automated compliance process and the applicable enforcement framework.

The objective, the NCC said, is to facilitate compliance, protect consumers and promote what it described as “a fair and sustainable market for communications devices in Nigeria.”

The NCC’s notice places compliance responsibilities across the device supply chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, dealers and retailers. For businesses already holding inventory, it specifically urged them to establish whether the devices in stock meet the applicable requirements before selling or distributing them.

The requirement means compliance is not limited to new devices entering the Nigerian market, as existing stock is also covered by the Commission’s instruction to distributors, dealers and retailers to verify their devices and address outstanding issues with suppliers.

The NCC said stakeholders requiring compliance guidance or onboarding assistance can use its Device Checker Guide or contact the Commission through the 315 helpline.

The regulator said the initiative forms part of its broader effort to strengthen Type Approval compliance and technology-enabled oversight of communications devices entering and circulating in Nigeria.

Tweet11Share3SendShare Previous Post NCC outage records uncover fibre cuts, vandalism behind Nigeria’s network disruptions Technology Times Newsroom 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟒. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐀𝐩𝐩: +𝟐𝟑𝟒 𝟐𝟎𝟏 𝟒𝟓𝟒 𝟏𝟖𝟏𝟖.

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