NCC
… dial 315 and you will get the help you need as it is toll-free.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said on Tuesday that more than 231 million telecom devices in circulation across the country have been duly registered and approved for use.
The NCC said the clarification was necessary as it began implementing an enhanced type-approval compliance framework for SIM-enabled communication devices nationwide.
The Commission’s Director of Technical Services and Network Integrity, Engr Edoyemi Ogoh, told journalists at a media briefing that implementing enhanced type-approval for devices would improve network quality and protect consumers, especially regarding health and safety.
Ogoh, who urged Nigerians to verify devices before purchasing them at any retail shop, said, “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.
“The process is very easy; just dial 315, and you will get the help you need, as it is toll-free.
“And you always get someone who will certainly respond to you and address whatever issues that you may have with your devices.”
He said the framework was designed to ensure that communication devices sold and used in Nigeria comply with established technical and regulatory standards, and that such regulatory mechanisms are implemented regularly worldwide.
He said that the initiative was part of the Commission’s statutory responsibility under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, to safeguard the integrity of telecommunications networks and promote consumer confidence.
“The telecommunications sector is critical to Nigeria’s economic and social development, with millions of Nigerians relying on communication devices for businesses, education, healthcare, financial transactions and personal communication.”
According to him, the integrity of telecommunications networks depends not only on infrastructure but also on the quality, safety, and compliance of connected devices.
“The implementation creates an environment in which consumers can have greater confidence in the devices available within the Nigerian marketplace.
“It also contributes to a healthier device environment in which compliance becomes the norm rather than the exception,” he said.
Ogoh explained that Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, required relevant service providers, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers to obtain type approval from the Commission before selling or using communication equipment in Nigeria.
He said the enhanced framework would facilitate electronic verification of the type approval status of SIM-enabled devices, improve regulatory oversight, and help identify non-compliant, cloned, and counterfeit devices. He added that the NCC had previously engaged in a series of discussions with key stakeholders on the matter, and that the Commission would do everything to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Ogoh further said the initiative would promote fair competition among legitimate businesses, improve network performance, and strengthen confidence in communication devices available in the Nigerian market.
He said the Commission conducted market studies and consultations across the device value chain after issuing its Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024.
Ogoh said the NCC worked with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, to ensure devices already in stock were properly onboarded and that newly imported devices were verified and authenticated.
“The engagements involve original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, service providers, government agencies and industry associations, whose contributions informed the framework’s design and implementation”, he said.
The Director said the framework was strictly for device identification and regulatory compliance, not a surveillance tool.
He explained that the system used device identification information, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, for regulatory purposes, adding that the Commission does not have access to users’ financial information or personal data.
The Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, described device checking and type approval as important measures to ensure device safety, improve network quality, and protect consumers.
Ukoha, who described newsmen as partners in progress, said the initiative would contribute to building a more secure digital environment and support Nigeria’s ambition to develop a trillion-dollar digital economy.
