The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun implementing a device authentication system to block counterfeit, cloned and unapproved phones from connecting to mobile networks, as the regulator disclosed that 231 million telecom devices have already been captured in its database nationwide.
The initiative is aimed at protecting consumers from fake and substandard handsets, improving network quality and strengthening oversight of devices imported and sold across Nigeria.
The Commission’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during a press briefing on the Device Checker and Type Approval Compliance regime.
Ogoh said all handsets already active on Nigerian mobile networks had been automatically onboarded into the system, meaning existing users do not need to register their devices again.
He explained that the NCC was working with the Nigeria Customs Service, original equipment manufacturers, importers and dealers to authenticate devices before they enter the market.
According to him, the collaboration would enable the Commission to track who imported a device, when it was imported and the quantity brought into the country, making it easier to identify and clamp down on suppliers of counterfeit products.
Ogoh warned that fake and faulty devices do more than defraud consumers, noting that they can also degrade network performance by interfering with telecom infrastructure and affecting other users connected to the same cell site.
He said the initiative was in line with Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which mandates type approval for telecommunications equipment before it can be sold or used in Nigeria.
The framework follows the release of the Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and subsequent engagements with industry stakeholders.
To help consumers check whether their devices comply with the requirements, Ogoh urged Nigerians to dial *315# or visit the NCC Device Checker portal to verify phones, tablets, modems and other SIM-enabled devices.
He advised consumers who discover that their devices are unverified to seek replacements from their sellers. Where complaints remain unresolved, they can contact the Commission through its toll-free line, 315.
Addressing concerns about privacy, Ogoh stressed that the system was not a surveillance tool and would not access personal information stored on phones, including messages, photographs, contacts and bank details.
He said the system uses device identity information solely for authentication purposes.
In her opening remarks, the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, said the framework formed part of the Commission’s broader efforts to strengthen telecommunications safety, improve network quality and protect consumers.
She urged the media to support public awareness campaigns to ensure Nigerians understand the new requirements and how to verify their devices.