*Introduces verification system
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a device verification system requiring new communications devices brought into Nigeria by importers to be verified from October 7, 2026, as part of efforts to enforce existing type approval regulations.
The commission said consumers could check whether a device had been approved and verified for use on Nigerian mobile networks by dialling *315# or visiting its Device Checker portal.
In a frequently asked questions document on the system, the NCC said the requirement applied to SIM-enabled devices, including smartphones, feature phones, cellular tablets, laptops, point-of-sale terminals and eligible Internet of Things devices.
It stated that manufacturers, importers, suppliers and other businesses placing communications devices on the Nigerian market were responsible for meeting the applicable type approval and verification requirements.
Consumers buying devices from local sellers would not ordinarily be required to obtain type approval or submit their device identification numbers themselves.
The commission explained that type approval was an existing legal requirement designed to ensure that communications devices met approved technical standards before being sold or used in Nigeria.
It cited the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, including Section 132(2), the Nigerian Communications (Type Approval) Regulations 2024 and the Type Approval Business Rules 2024 as the legal framework for the exercise.
The NCC said the strengthened verification process was intended to make compliance checks and enforcement more efficient and consistent, while helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
The commission said phones already connected to Nigerian mobile networks before the system took effect on October 7 had been automatically verified, requiring no action from their owners.
It added that phones already in use, devices purchased within Nigeria, whether new or second-hand, and phones transferred between family members or friends would not ordinarily require additional action.
However, consumers were advised to check the status of a device before buying it, including second-hand phones that had previously been used on Nigerian networks.
The NCC warned that previous network use did not, by itself, guarantee that a device met the applicable requirements.
It said devices confirmed not to meet the requirements, including counterfeit devices, would be denied access to Nigerian mobile networks.
A device that could not be verified, however, would not automatically be classified as counterfeit. Owners were advised to contact their sellers or mobile service providers for clarification and assistance.
The commission also sought to address concerns about the information collected through the verification system, saying the technology used device identification details, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, to establish compliance.
Device identifiers could also be associated with mobile numbers for verification and regulatory purposes.
The NCC said the system did not give it access to users’ personal content, including calls, messages, photographs and other files stored on their devices.
It also said the Device Checker did not track users’ physical locations or movements.
The commission advised consumers to use only its official verification channels and warned them against disclosing one-time verification codes to callers, sellers or other individuals.
Where additional verification was required, users were told to follow the instructions provided through the official system.
The NCC said phones brought into Nigeria for personal use could be subject to a different verification procedure from devices imported commercially for sale.
Individuals who purchased phones abroad for personal use could initiate verification using details of their travel history and were advised to call 315 for guidance.
Foreign visitors using international roaming with foreign SIM cards would not be affected by the system, according to the commission.
However, visitors bringing phones that had never been used in Nigeria and intending to use Nigerian SIM cards could use the devices for up to 30 cumulative days within a one-year period without verification.
The commission also said a stolen device could be blocked across Nigerian mobile networks after it had been reported and ownership verified.
It explained that the IMEI, a unique 15-digit number assigned to a cellular device, helped identify equipment on mobile networks and supported efforts to detect cloned devices and those reported stolen.
Consumers can find their phone’s IMEI by dialling *#06#, checking the device settings or examining the original packaging.
The NCC advised phone repairers to follow manufacturers’ authorised procedures and avoid unauthorised changes to device identification numbers, warning that altered or duplicated IMEIs could undermine verification and conceal counterfeit or stolen devices.
It urged consumers to confirm a device’s status before payment and ask sellers to resolve unsuccessful verification results before completing a purchase.
The commission added that a successful verification result confirmed the device’s reported type approval and verification status but did not guarantee that every component was genuine or that the device had no faults or unauthorised repairs.
Consumers needing assistance can dial 315 or contact their mobile service providers or the NCC through its official support channels.
