By Our Correspondent
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched an automated, technology-driven framework to strengthen Type Approval compliance for all SIM-enabled devices operating in Nigeria.
The initiative, supported by the newly deployed Device Management System (DMS), is designed to enable the telecommunications regulator to electronically verify that communications devices meet prescribed technical and regulatory standards before they are sold or deployed in the Nigerian market.
According to the NCC, the initiative is aimed at strengthening network integrity, improving consumer protection and boosting confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.
In a statement by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, the Commission said the measure is anchored on Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which requires equipment manufacturers, suppliers and service providers to obtain Type Approval for relevant communications equipment.
NCC said the first phase of the rollout has commenced, focusing on the onboarding of existing retail stock and establishing structured registration processes for future imports.
A key component of the system is the establishment of a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which will track the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of active devices on Nigerian networks.
The Commission further said it is working with the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and market associations to ensure that unregistered or illegally imported devices are identified and prevented from operating on Nigerian telecommunications networks.
Beyond regulatory compliance, the DMS is also expected to address wider challenges confronting Nigeria’s device market, including the influx of black-market electronics and the circulation of stolen mobile phones. It added.
Also, the Commission stressed that the system will enable stolen devices to be blacklisted across mobile networks nationwide, thereby strengthening efforts to combat device-related crime and protect consumers.
The telecommunications regulator, however, assured Nigerians that the DMS is strictly an identification and regulatory compliance tool and does not constitute a mechanism for monitoring users.
According to the NCC, the system stores only device-related hardware information, such as IMEI numbers, and does not provide the Commission with access to users’ files, personal data or private communications.
The Commission said the technology-driven approach represents a further step towards building a more secure, transparent and standards-compliant telecommunications market in Nigeria. (GSF)