NCC Tightens Device Checks, Warns Against Unapproved Phones

….Rolls Out Mandatory Device Verification Code

By Christiana Ekpa

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has strengthened enforcement of its Type Approval requirements for SIM-enabled devices, warning that counterfeit and non-compliant phones could be denied access to Nigerian mobile networks.

The Commission said the enhanced compliance framework, which took effect on 7 October 2026, is designed to identify unapproved, cloned and fake devices, improve network integrity and protect consumers from substandard communications equipment.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, said the initiative would improve regulatory oversight and ensure that devices sold and used in Nigeria meet the required technical standards.

Ogoh explained that Type Approval was an existing regulatory requirement, not a new obligation, stressing that the Commission was leveraging technology to make compliance checks and enforcement more effective.

He said the initiative followed stakeholder consultations involving original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecommunications operators, government agencies and industry associations.

Under the enhanced framework, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and other businesses responsible for placing communications devices on the Nigerian market must ensure that applicable approval and device-verification requirements are met before sale.

To help consumers verify devices, the NCC has introduced its Device Checker service, accessible by dialling *315#, visiting www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceChecker or calling the toll-free number 315.

Consumers are advised to check a device’s approval and verification status before paying for a phone, tablet, modem, point-of-sale (POS) terminal or any other SIM-enabled device. The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a unique 15-digit device identifier, may be required when checking a different device.

The Commission clarified that phones already connected to Nigerian mobile networks before the system took effect on 7 October were automatically verified, meaning existing users generally do not need to take any action. Phones bought locally, including second-hand devices, and phones received from family or friends also do not ordinarily require additional action, although consumers should check a used device before purchasing it.

Ogoh also moved to address privacy concerns, insisting that the framework was designed for device identification and regulatory compliance, not surveillance.

He said the system does not give the Commission access to users’ calls, messages, photographs, contacts, financial information or other personal files, nor does it enable the NCC to track users’ physical locations or movements.

The NCC explained that device verification serves a different purpose from SIM registration. While SIM registration identifies a subscriber, Device Checker establishes whether a device model has received Type Approval and whether the particular device has been verified for use on Nigerian mobile networks.

The Commission said devices confirmed to be counterfeit or to violate applicable requirements could be refused access to Nigerian mobile networks. However, an unsuccessful verification result does not automatically mean a device is counterfeit, and affected users are advised to contact their sellers or service providers for clarification.

For Nigerians bringing phones into the country for personal use, the NCC said a separate verification procedure applies. Visitors using international roaming with foreign SIM cards are unaffected, while phones that have never been used on Nigerian networks and are brought in for use with Nigerian SIM cards may operate for up to 30 cumulative days within a one-year period without verification.

The Commission urged consumers to use only its official verification channels and warned them never to disclose one-time verification codes to callers, sellers or other individuals. Users who require assistance can dial *315# or contact their service providers or the NCC through its official consumer support channels.

• Ogoh called on the media, industry operators, manufacturers, dealers and consumer groups to support public awareness efforts, stressing that effective compliance would strengthen consumer protection, improve network performance and build confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.