From Adanna Nnamai, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the implementation of an enhanced type approval compliance framework for SIM-enabled communication devices, in a move to identify and prevent fake, cloned and non-compliant devices from connecting to telecommunications networks.
The initiative is aimed at protecting consumers, improving network performance and ensuring that communication devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria meet established technical and regulatory standards.
The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Ogoh said the framework would enable the commission to carry out electronic verification of the type approval status of SIM-enabled devices, thereby strengthening regulatory oversight and facilitating the identification of devices that do not meet the required standards.
He said the quality and compliance of devices connected to telecommunications networks were as important as the integrity of the network infrastructure itself.
According to him, type approval is a critical mechanism for protecting consumers, safeguarding network performance and preserving confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
“The initiative supports the Commission’s broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of devices in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. It will improve compliance with applicable standards, enhance network performance, facilitate the identification of non-compliant devices, and strengthen consumer confidence in devices sold and used within the country,” Ogoh said.
He explained that the implementation followed extensive stakeholder engagements, market studies and consultations conducted after the issuance of the NCC’s Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024.
According to him, the consultations involved original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, service providers, government agencies and industry associations.
Ogoh added that the commission had worked with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), manufacturers, importers and relevant market associations to ensure that devices already in stock were onboarded, while newly imported devices would be properly verified and authenticated.
He said the initiative would provide a more effective mechanism for identifying fake, cloned and non-compliant devices and preventing them from connecting to telecommunications networks.
The director urged consumers to verify the approval status of communication devices before purchasing them, particularly phones, tablets, modems and point-of-sale (POS) terminals that use SIM cards.
“When buying a phone, tablet, modem, POS terminal or any device that uses a SIM, before you pay, we encourage consumers to ask the seller if the device is NCC Type Approved,” he said.
Ogoh noted that Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 provides the statutory basis for the commission’s type approval requirements, which are intended to ensure that communications equipment deployed in the country meets established technical standards.
He said the enhanced framework would also help legitimate businesses operate in a fair and transparent environment while strengthening compliance across the device value chain.
Addressing concerns about data privacy, Ogoh said the framework was designed solely to support device identification and type approval compliance and would not give the commission access to users’ personal communications or information stored on their devices.
“The Type Approval Compliance framework is not designed for surveillance and does not provide the Commission with access to the content of communications, photographs, messages, contacts, financial information or any other personal information stored on users’ devices,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Public Affairs of the NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, said the initiative was particularly important because telecommunications technology had become central to business operations, financial transactions, education, healthcare, public services and personal communications.
She said millions of Nigerians depended on devices connected to telecommunications networks, making compliance with technical standards essential to consumer protection and the sustainability of the industry.
According to her, the commission was committed to ensuring that regulatory oversight kept pace with the growing scale and complexity of the telecommunications sector.
She called on stakeholders, including government agencies, industry operators, equipment manufacturers, dealers, consumer groups and the media, to support the implementation through cooperation and public sensitisation.
Ukoha stressed that public understanding was fundamental to the success of the initiative, urging journalists to provide accurate and balanced information to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
She said the commission would sustain and intensify stakeholder engagement and public awareness activities to ensure that consumers and businesses understood the objectives of the framework and their
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