The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed citizens to verify the authenticity of mobile phones before purchase to ensure the devices are officially approved for use on the country’s telecommunications networks.
Prospective buyers can now check the regulatory status of a phone by dialling *315# or utilising the device checker portal available on the website of the commission.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Newsnight programme, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Eduyemi Ogoh, stated that the verification process is targeted at mitigating the influx of counterfeit products, particularly for individuals purchasing second-hand phones or devices imported from other countries.
The aims to fulfill the statutory obligations of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to protect consumers and address lingering complaints regarding poor network performance linked to substandard mobile devices.
To verify a device, buyers must dial *315# and follow the prompt to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a unique identifier assigned to each mobile phone.
Ogoh warned that unapproved or malfunctioning handsets do not only affect the owners but disrupt service quality for other users within the same geographical area.
“Before you buy the phone, dial *315# and confirm that the phone is fully verified before you pay. The whole intent is to ensure that every device coming into the country is genuine and works the way it should work,” Ogoh stated.
The director, however, clarified that if your phone fails the verification test, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s fake. He explained that there is a big difference between testing a phone model and tracking an individual device. While manufacturers and importers are responsible for the one-time laboratory testing, known as ‘type approval’, to ensure a phone model meets technical standards, the NCC’s verification simply checks if your specific phone’s IMEI number is registered in their system. This new tracking rule applies to all devices brought into Nigeria starting October 7.
However, the commission confirmed that approximately 231 million existing devices already connected to Nigerian networks before midnight on October 6 have been automatically onboarded and verified.
“We know that people have spent their money to do this, so you cannot be asking them to go and throw those phones out,” he explained.
The NCC assured Nigerians that the system does not grant the regulatory body access to users’ calls, contacts, text messages, or other stored personal information.
Consumers experiencing difficulties with the device checker are advised to dial 315 for direct assistance, while general complaints regarding telecommunications services can be routed to the NCC’s official consumer complaint line on 622.
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