The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a new system to tighten checks on SIM-enabled devices entering and operating in Nigeria.
The commission said the new Device Management System (DMS) will help verify devices and ensure they meet the required technical and regulatory standards before they are sold or used on Nigerian networks.
The NCC Director of Public Affairs, Nnena Ukoha, disclosed this in a statement, saying the move is in line with Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
The law requires manufacturers, suppliers and service providers to obtain Type Approval for communications equipment before they are used in the country.
Tracking devices through IMEI numbers
The first phase of the new system has started with the registration of devices already in the retail market, as well as the creation of registration processes for future imports.
The NCC said the system will use a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) to keep track of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of active devices.
The commission is working with the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and market associations as part of efforts to ensure that devices brought into the country are properly registered.
According to the NCC, devices that are not registered or are found to have been illegally imported could be blocked from operating on Nigerian networks.
System to tackle stolen and black-market phones
The commission said the DMS will also help address the circulation of black-market electronic devices in the country.
It will also make it possible to blacklist stolen phones across mobile networks, making such devices more difficult to use after they have been reported stolen.
The NCC said the system is not designed to monitor phone users or their private activities.
“The DMS is strictly an identification and compliance tool,” the commission said.
It explained that the system only keeps device hardware information, including IMEI numbers, and does not give the commission access to users’ files, personal data or private communications.
The NCC said the new system is expected to improve compliance with Type Approval requirements and help protect both telecommunications networks and consumers.
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