NCC deepens regulatory oversight of Nigeria’s mobile device market

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Read History Go to My Account Log Out Enhanced by Google News NCC deepens regulatory oversight of Nigeria’s mobile device market The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to verify the regulatory status of mobile phones before purchasing them, as

Listen to this article Share The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to verify the regulatory status of mobile phones before purchasing them, as it steps up enforcement of device approval requirements to curb the circulation of counterfeit, cloned and unauthorised devices.

Megana Ibrahim Ahmed, the Zonal Controller of the NCC Kano Zonal Office, on Thursday, while briefing journalists, said the commission’s Device Checker platform was designed to protect consumers, improve compliance with technical standards and strengthen the integrity of devices connected to Nigerian telecommunications networks.

Ahmed made this known during a media briefing in Kano, where the commission outlined measures to improve compliance among device manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers while educating consumers on how to avoid purchasing non-compliant products.

He said the initiative was particularly important as Nigeria’s digital economy expanded, requiring devices connected to telecommunications networks to meet established technical and regulatory standards.

According to the commission, it has streamlined licensing and regularisation processes, enabling several device dealers in Kano State to obtain the necessary licences.

The NCC has also conducted sensitisation programmes and engagements with importers and other industry stakeholders in Lagos and other parts of the country to improve awareness of type approval requirements and obligations under the Device Checker framework.

Ahmed said the measures were intended to strengthen accountability across the device supply chain and make it easier for businesses to comply with regulatory requirements.

To simplify the process, the commission has developed a Device Checker application that allows authorised stakeholders to scan International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and upload device information directly to the platform.

The IMEI is a unique identification number assigned to mobile devices and can be used to identify individual devices during verification.

The commission advised consumers to visit www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceChecker and enter a device’s IMEI number to check its status before completing a purchase.

Manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers can also consult the Type Approval and Device Verification Guide through www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceCheckerGuide to understand their obligations under the regulatory framework.

Businesses seeking type approval can access the relevant application requirements and procedures through the type approval section of the commission’s website.

Addressing concerns about privacy, Ahmed said the Device Checker platform was not a surveillance tool and did not access personal information stored on users’ devices.

He explained that its functions were limited to device identification and regulatory compliance verification, stressing that it did not access private messages, photographs, contacts, financial information or other personal content.

The commission also encouraged consumers who require assistance with device verification or other telecommunications-related complaints to contact its consumer support service through the 315 toll-free number.

Ahmed urged Nigerians to patronise reputable and licensed dealers and take advantage of the commission’s online verification resources before purchasing mobile phones.

He also called on manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers to familiarise themselves with the Type Approval and Device Verification Guide and ensure that their products complied with the commission’s requirements.

The NCC said the initiative formed part of its broader efforts to protect consumers, promote fair competition, safeguard network integrity and build public confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The commission further urged the media to sustain public awareness campaigns to ensure that consumers and industry operators understood the importance of device verification and regulatory compliance.