The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has begun electronically verifying the type approval status of SIM-enabled devices to identify and prevent fake, cloned and non-compliant equipment from connecting to telecommunications networks.
Edoyemi Ogoh, director of technical standards and network
integrity at the commission, spoke on Tuesday at a news conference on the
commission’s technical standards and network integrity initiatives in Abuja.
Type approval is the regulatory process through which the
NCC certifies that telecommunications equipment meets established technical
requirements before it is sold or used in Nigeria.
Ogoh said the enhanced compliance framework would strengthen
oversight of devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria.
He said the framework would enable the commission to verify
devices against its type approval requirements, improve network performance and
protect consumers from equipment that does not meet applicable technical
standards.
“We have also ensured that devices currently in stock are
appropriately onboarded and that devices imported into Nigeria going forward
are properly verified and authenticated,” he said.
“This will provide a more effective mechanism for
identifying non-compliant, cloned, or fake devices and prevent them from
connecting to our networks.”
Ogoh said the commission’s initiative followed the issuance
of its type approval business rules in August 2024 and consultations with
original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecommunications
operators, government agencies and industry associations.
He said the commission had also worked with the Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) and other stakeholders across the device supply chain to
support implementation.
According to Ogoh, under section 132(2) of the Nigerian
Communications Act 2003, communications equipment intended for sale or use in
Nigeria must obtain type approval from the commission.
He said the enhanced framework would improve compliance with
the requirements and help ensure that devices connecting to Nigerian networks
are compatible with network infrastructure.
The director urged consumers to confirm the type approval
status of SIM-enabled devices before buying them.
Ogoh said buyers should ask sellers whether a phone, tablet,
modem, point-of-sale terminal or other SIM-enabled device had received NCC type
approval.
He said non-compliant equipment could create challenges for
network performance and regulatory oversight, adding that effective enforcement
would help protect consumers and improve the reliability of telecommunications
services.
The director explained that the framework was designed to
strengthen confidence in devices available in the Nigerian market while
ensuring that manufacturers, importers and dealers comply with applicable
standards.
‘PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE ACCESSED’
Ogoh said the enhanced compliance framework was limited to
device identification and type approval verification, adding that it did not
give the commission access to personal information stored on users’ devices.
He said the system maintained device identification
information, including international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) numbers,
for regulatory purposes.
“The objective of the initiative is regulatory compliance
relating to communications devices. It is not a surveillance tool and does not
provide access to personal information stored on devices,” he said.
Ogoh added that the framework did not provide access to
users’ photographs, messages, contacts, financial information or the content of
their communications.
According to the director, the commission would continue
public awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement to explain the initiative
and the responsibilities of consumers and businesses.
He said the success of the framework would depend on
cooperation among government agencies, telecommunications operators,
manufacturers, dealers, consumer groups and the media.
Ogoh added that the commission remained committed to
strengthening technical standards and protecting consumers as Nigeria’s
telecommunications sector expands.
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