By Jennete Ugo Anya
The growing circulation of counterfeit, cloned and unauthorised mobile devices in Nigeria has prompted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to strengthen its regulatory oversight through a device verification platform designed to protect consumers and improve the integrity of telecommunications networks.
The commission said its Device Checker Platform would enable consumers and industry stakeholders to verify the regulatory status of SIM-enabled devices, including smartphones, feature phones, tablets, routers, Internet of Things equipment and SIM-enabled Point-of-Sale terminals.
Speaking at a media briefing on the NCC’s Technical Standards and Network Integrity initiatives in Lagos, the commission’s Zonal Controller, Lagos Zonal Office, Tunji Jimoh, said the platform was developed to ensure that devices connected to Nigerian networks comply with established technical and regulatory standards.
Jimoh, who represented the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the initiative had become increasingly important as Nigeria’s digital economy expands and more devices connect to telecommunications infrastructure.
“As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, it is important that devices connected to our networks comply with established technical and regulatory standards,” he said.
The NCC explained that Type Approval and Device Checker serve related but distinct regulatory purposes. While Type Approval confirms that a particular device model meets the Commission’s technical requirements, the Device Checker verifies individual devices through their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.
The distinction places compliance obligations on manufacturers, importers, distributors, dealers and retailers, who are expected to ensure that applicable device models are approved and individual units successfully verified before sale or distribution.
The commission also sought to address privacy concerns surrounding the platform. Jimoh stressed that the system was designed for device identification and regulatory compliance, not surveillance.
“The Device Checker Platform is not a surveillance tool. It does not access personal data, messages, photographs, contacts, financial information, or any other private content stored on a device,” he said.
According to the NCC, the platform does not enable the commission to listen to calls, read messages or track users’ physical movements.
For consumers, the commission urged Nigerians to make device verification a routine step before purchasing mobile phones, particularly second-hand handsets. Users can obtain a phone’s IMEI by dialling *#06# and check its status through the official NCC Device Checker service, including the *315# channel.
The NCC cautioned that previous operation on a Nigerian network does not automatically establish that a second-hand device is compliant. It also advised buyers to patronise reputable dealers and avoid disclosing one-time verification codes to sellers or other persons.
