The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a toll-free line, 315, to enable consumers to verify the approval status of mobile phones and other SIM-enabled devices before purchase, as it steps up efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit and non-compliant equipment.
Edoyemi Ogoh, director of Technical Services and Network Integrity at the commission, disclosed this at a media roundtable in Abuja on Tuesday, urging buyers to confirm that devices meet regulatory requirements before purchasing them.
Ogoh said the service would provide consumers with direct access to assistance on device approval, adding that calls to the number were free.
“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.
The initiative forms part of the commission’s enhanced type approval compliance framework for SIM-enabled communication devices, which seeks to improve telecommunications network quality, strengthen regulatory oversight and protect consumers from substandard products.
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Under the framework, the NCC will facilitate electronic verification of device approval status and improve its capacity to identify cloned, counterfeit and other equipment that does not comply with prescribed technical standards.
The commission said the initiative was necessary because network performance depends not only on telecommunications infrastructure but also on the quality and compliance of devices connected to it.
“Non-compliant devices can present challenges to network performance and complicate regulatory oversight,” Ogoh said, adding that stronger enforcement would help improve the reliability of services used by millions of Nigerians for business, education, healthcare and financial transactions.
The framework is anchored on Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which requires relevant service providers, facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain type approval from the commission before communication equipment can be sold or used in Nigeria.
The NCC issued its Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and subsequently conducted stakeholder engagements, market studies and consultations across the device value chain to support implementation.
Ogoh said the commission had worked with the Nigeria Customs Service, original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, service providers and industry associations to ensure that devices already in stock were appropriately onboarded, while newly imported products underwent verification and authentication.
The process is expected to improve compliance across the device supply chain and promote fair competition between businesses that meet regulatory requirements and those that do not.
The commission also sought to allay concerns over the collection of device identification information, insisting that the framework was designed for regulatory compliance rather than surveillance.
Ogoh said the system would use International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers to identify devices for regulatory purposes but would not give the commission access to users’ personal communications, financial information or other personal data stored on their devices.
He said consumer privacy would remain protected under applicable laws and regulatory requirements as the commission intensifies public awareness of the framework.
Nnenna Ukoha, director of Public Affairs at the NCC, said device verification and type approval were important for improving equipment safety, network quality and consumer protection.
She added that the initiative would contribute to a more secure digital environment and support Nigeria’s ambition to develop a trillion-dollar digital economy.
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