NCC device check: How to verify a second-hand phone before you pay

Nigerians buying second-hand phones can confirm whether a device is approved for use on local networks by dialling *315# or visiting the Nigerian Communications Commission's Device Checker at www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceChecker. The NCC has advised buyers to run that check before paying for any fairly used phone.

The verification system took effect on October 7, 2026. The NCC's Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, said the initiative is meant to protect consumers and improve network performance.

"Type Approval is not merely a regulatory requirement. It is a vital mechanism for protecting consumers, safeguarding network performance and preserving confidence in Nigeria's digital economy," Ogoh said at a news conference in Abuja.

How to check a phone

Dial *315# and follow the instructions to reach the NCC Device Checker service. Alternatively, go to www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceChecker to check a device online.

For a phone you do not own, dial *#06# on the device to display its 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, then run the check. Confirm the result before you hand over money. If the result is unclear or the check fails, contact the seller, your network provider or the NCC for clarification.

Existing users and second-hand buyers

Phones already connected to Nigerian mobile networks before October 7, 2026 were automatically verified. Ogoh said the commission had registered about 231 million devices, so existing subscribers do not need to take any action.

"We are not blacklisting those that have come up before this," he said, referring to phones connected to local networks before the system started.

Buyers of fairly used phones should ask sellers to give them access to the device so they can retrieve the IMEI and complete the check. A failed check does not automatically mean a phone is fake. Buyers should confirm the status with the seller or the NCC before completing the purchase.

Which devices are covered

The system covers devices with SIM cards that connect to Nigerian mobile networks. These include smartphones, basic mobile phones, tablets with cellular connectivity, SIM-enabled laptops, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and eligible Internet of Things devices.

Phones found to be non-compliant with applicable requirements, including counterfeit and substandard devices, may be blocked from accessing Nigerian mobile networks.

The NCC has dismissed fears that the system will allow it to monitor private communications. Ogoh said it "is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices." The commission said the process uses device identification details such as IMEI numbers to check compliance, and does not give it access to messages, photographs, other personal files or users' physical locations.

Foreign visitors using international roaming with foreign SIM cards are not affected. Under the NCC's guidelines, phones never used on a Nigerian network and brought in for use with a Nigerian SIM can be used for up to 30 cumulative days within a one-year period without verification. Phones imported for personal use may follow a different verification process from devices brought in for commercial purposes.

Consumers who cannot verify a phone should first confirm they entered the correct IMEI number. If the problem continues, they can seek clarification from the seller, contact their mobile network provider or call the NCC's toll-free number, 315.

The commission has also warned about verification scams and advised consumers to use only official channels. It urged Nigerians not to disclose one-time verification codes to sellers, callers or other individuals.

Standard device fees start at about N670, but traders warn some importers could use the rollout to justify price increases of up to N20,000. For buyers of fairly used phones, the *315# check is now a step worth taking before any payment, since an unapproved device may lose access to MTN, Airtel, Glo and other local networks.