The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a new system for registering and authenticating SIM-enabled devices in Nigeria as part of efforts to tackle illegally imported and non-compliant communications equipment.
Under the new framework, devices capable of using SIM cards must be registered before they can be sold in the Nigerian market. Equipment that has not been registered will not be permitted to connect to Nigerian mobile networks.
The NCC announced the development on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, titled, “NCC Strengthens Type Approval Compliance for SIM-Enabled Devices in Nigeria.”
The commission said the initiative would establish a central database of communications devices operating in Nigeria and strengthen compliance with its Type Approval regulations.
Type Approval is the regulatory process through which the NCC ensures that communications equipment imported, marketed or used in the country meets prescribed technical and safety requirements.
The regulator said it was introducing a technology-driven framework that would enable it to automatically verify whether SIM-enabled devices comply with the relevant Type Approval requirements.
A key component of the initiative is the Device Management System (DMS), which will provide the infrastructure for automated compliance checks and give the NCC greater oversight of the communications device market.
“The initiative is intended to make Type Approval compliance more efficient, consistent, and effective by enabling the Commission to electronically determine Type Approval compliance of SIM-enabled devices,” the NCC said.
According to the commission, the system will also strengthen the integrity of the device ecosystem, improve adherence to technical standards, support better network performance and make it easier to identify equipment that does not meet regulatory requirements.
The initiative is based on Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The provision requires licensed service and facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain NCC Type Approval before communications equipment can be sold or used in Nigeria.
The commission said it had begun th first phase of the automated compliance programme and was working with the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers, importers and relevant market associations.
The initial phase will involve registering devices already in stock and ensuring that newly imported equipment is registered and authenticated before entering the market.
The NCC said the system would improve its ability to detect illegally imported and non-compliant devices before they become widely distributed.
The commission’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, said the Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024 provided the regulatory basis for creating a Central Equipment Identity Register.
The register will contain information on SIM-enabled communications devices in Nigeria through their International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers.
“Following the issuance of the Rules, the Commission commenced extensive stakeholder engagements and market studies, which informed the eventual design and deployment of the system,” Ogoh said.
He said a central IMEI database would enable the regulator to establish whether devices entering and operating in the country comply with the required standards.
“By establishing a central registry of the International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers of devices in Nigeria, the Commission will be better positioned to ensure effective and efficient compliance with its Type Approval requirements and to ensure that devices imported into, sold and used in Nigeria meet the applicable standards,” he added.
Ogoh said registration would now be mandatory for SIM-enabled devices entering the Nigerian market.
“With the deployment of this system, all SIM-enabled communications devices brought into the country must be registered before they are sold. Devices that are not duly registered will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian networks,” he noted.
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The new framework is expected to cover mobile phones and other communications equipment capable of operating with SIM cards, particularly those entering the country through unofficial or non-compliant channels.
Beyond regulatory enforcement, the NCC said the system could also help combat the use of stolen devices.
“Beyond improving Type Approval compliance, the technology will help address some of the wider challenges associated with the device market.
“Illegally imported and non-compliant devices will be easier to identify, while devices reported stolen can be blocked from use across Nigerian mobile networks,” Ogoh said.
Because a device can be identified through its IMEI number, blocking it could prevent it from connecting to participating mobile networks even after its SIM card is changed.
The NCC also addressed possible concerns about privacy and the creation of a central device database.
Ogoh explained that the platform was designed solely for device identification and Type Approval compliance and would store identification details such as IMEI numbers.
He stressed that the system would not give the commission access to personal information or content stored on subscribers’ devices, nor would it enable the NCC to monitor private communications.
The commission said the automated framework would ultimately help improve consumer confidence in communications devices sold in Nigeria and ensure that equipment connected to the country’s telecommunications networks meets established technical standards.
The new compliance process will also involve customs authorities, manufacturers and importers, creating a mechanism through which improperly registered or non-compliant equipment can potentially be identified earlier in the supply chain.