The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has registered about 231 million phones and other devices already in use across Nigeria, as it begins checking new devices before they can connect to mobile networks.
Edoyemi Ogoh, the commission’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja recently. “We have already registered about 231 million devices across the country,” he said, adding that subscribers with such devices need to do nothing.
The new system, which the commission says took effect on October 7, aims to keep fake, cloned and unapproved phones off Nigerian networks. Devices introduced from henceforth, the commission said, must pass verification before they can get network access.
Ogoh said phones already connected will not be cut off, even if they fall short of current approval standards. He explained that the decision protects consumers who bought devices before checking tools existed.
The commission is working with the Nigeria Customs Service, manufacturers, importers and dealers to confirm that devices are genuine before they reach the market. The system will also show who imported a device, when, and in what quantity, Ogoh said.
He added that counterfeit and faulty phones can hurt network quality because some interfere with equipment and affect other users on the same cell site.
On privacy, Ogoh said the system relies on device identification details such as the IMEI number. It cannot access messages, photos, contacts or financial records, and does not track users’ locations.
Consumers can check whether a device is approved by dialling *315# or visiting the commission’s Device Checker portal at www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker. A phone’s IMEI number can be retrieved by dialling *#06#. Buyers who find that a device is unverified should ask their seller for a replacement, while unresolved complaints can go to the toll-free 315 line. The commission also warned the public against third-party websites claiming to offer device registration.
Buyers purchasing from Nigerian sellers do not need to obtain type approval themselves, as that duty rests mainly with manufacturers, importers and suppliers. The framework is backed by Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024.
