The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to verify the approval status of SIM-enabled devices before purchasing them to ensure compliance with technical and regulatory standards.
The commission also advised consumers to confirm that mobile phones, tablets, modems and other communication devices have received the necessary regulatory approval before buying them.
The Director of Technical Services and Network Integrity at the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, gave the advice at a media roundtable in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ogoh urged consumers to contact the commission through its toll-free number, 315, to verify the approval status of their devices and seek assistance with related issues.
“When buying a phone, tablet, modem or any device that uses a SIM, consumers should ask the seller whether it is NCC-approved and independently verify its approval status,” he said.
He explained that the commission had commenced the implementation of an enhanced type approval compliance framework for SIM-enabled communication devices to improve network quality, strengthen consumer protection and ensure compliance with established standards.
According to him, the initiative falls within the NCC’s statutory responsibilities under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, to safeguard telecommunications network integrity and promote consumer confidence.
Ogoh noted that telecommunications services were critical to Nigeria’s economic and social development, with millions of citizens relying on communication devices for business, education, healthcare, financial transactions and personal communication.
He stressed that network integrity depended not only on telecommunications infrastructure but also on the quality, safety and regulatory compliance of devices connected to the networks.
The director said the enhanced framework would enable electronic verification of the type approval status of SIM-enabled devices, strengthen regulatory oversight and assist in identifying non-compliant, cloned and counterfeit devices.
He added that the initiative would promote fair competition among legitimate businesses, improve network performance and increase public confidence in communication devices sold in Nigeria.
Ogoh cited Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which requires relevant service providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain type approval from the commission before communication equipment is sold or used in the country.
He said the NCC had conducted stakeholder engagements, market studies and consultations across the device value chain following the issuance of its Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024.
According to him, the commission had also collaborated with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, to ensure that devices already in stock were appropriately onboarded, while newly imported devices were verified and authenticated.
He said the consultations involved original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, service providers, government agencies and industry associations, whose contributions helped shape the framework.
Addressing concerns about privacy, Ogoh clarified that the framework was designed strictly for device identification and regulatory compliance and was not intended as a surveillance tool.
He explained that the system uses device identification information, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, for regulatory purposes.
He added that the commission did not have access to users’ financial information or personal data through the framework.
Ogoh reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to protecting consumer privacy in line with applicable laws and regulatory requirements, while sustaining public awareness and engagement with industry stakeholders.
Earlier, the Director of the NCC’s Public Affairs Department, Nnenna Ukoha, described device verification and type approval as important measures for ensuring device safety, improving network quality and protecting consumers.
Ukoha said the initiative would contribute to a more secure digital environment and support Nigeria’s ambition to develop a trillion-dollar digital economy.
Share this content:
About The Author
