NCC begins electronic verification of phones, modems, POS terminals to block fakes

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun electronically verifying SIM-enabled phones, modems and point-of-sale (PoS) terminals to block fake, cloned and non-compliant devices from connecting to Nigerian telecommunications networks.

The commission says the checks will support consumer protection and network reliability. It also says stored International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) details will not expose personal information.

What the NCC is checking

Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC's director of technical standards and network integrity, disclosed the move on Tuesday at a news conference on the commission's technical standards and network integrity initiatives in Abuja.

The NCC is verifying devices against its type approval requirements. Type approval is the regulatory process through which the commission certifies telecommunications equipment before it can be sold or used in Nigeria.

Ogoh said devices already in stock have been onboarded into the system. Equipment imported into Nigeria in future will undergo verification and authentication.

"We have also ensured that devices currently in stock are appropriately onboarded and that devices imported into Nigeria going forward are properly verified and authenticated," he said.

The NCC says the system will identify non-compliant, cloned and fake devices and prevent them from connecting to Nigerian networks.

No consumer check code yet

The commission urged Nigerians to confirm the type approval status of SIM-enabled devices before buying. It advised buyers to ask sellers whether phones, tablets, modems, PoS terminals and other compatible equipment have received NCC approval.

But the announcement did not specify a consumer verification code or explain the steps required for a buyer to check a device.

Rules, law and privacy

The framework follows the NCC's type approval business rules issued in August 2024 and consultations with manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecom operators, government agencies and industry associations. The commission has also worked with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders across the device supply chain.

Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 provides the legal basis for requiring communications equipment intended for sale or use in Nigeria to obtain type approval from the commission.

Ogoh said the system will retain device identification details, including IMEI numbers, for regulatory purposes. He said the framework is not designed to monitor users or access private information stored on their devices.

"The objective of the initiative is regulatory compliance relating to communications devices. It is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices," he said.

The NCC said the framework will not provide access to users' photographs, messages, contacts, financial information or communication content. It said it will continue public awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement.

The commission earlier extended the deadline for registering SIM-enabled devices on its Device Management System from September 7 to October 6, 2026. The extension gave original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers and vendors additional time.

The NCC says cooperation among government agencies, network operators, manufacturers, dealers, consumer groups and the media will be essential to the framework's success.