NCC device checker: phone traders seek sensitisation window as regulator defends scheme
- The NCC's Device Checker, launched on 7 October, lets Nigerians dial *315# to confirm if a phone is type-approved.
- Phone traders want more sensitisation and warn new fees could raise costs for members and buyers.
- The NCC says the tool is not for surveillance and does not give it access to users' personal data.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has defended its new Device Checker, a service that lets phone users confirm whether a device is approved for use on Nigerian networks, as phone traders ask for more time to sensitise their members.
The tool came on stream on 7 October 2026. Users can dial *315# to check whether a phone model is NCC Type Approved and cleared for use on local mobile networks.
The NCC said all SIM-enabled devices already connected before that date were automatically verified, so owners of existing phones need not do anything.
What the check is for
Type Approval is a legal requirement that communications devices meet approved technical standards before they are sold or used in Nigeria. It is illegal to use, sell or import devices that have not been approved.
Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC's Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, said the scheme is about more than regulation. According to him, it protects consumers, safeguards network performance and preserves confidence in Nigeria's digital economy.
The commission said the checker will help identify non-compliant devices, improve compliance with standards and strengthen consumer confidence in phones sold in the country.
The NCC said it consulted widely before launch, including with the Nigeria Customs Service, original equipment manufacturers, importers and market associations.
It also moved to calm fears about privacy. The commission said the framework is not designed for surveillance and does not give it access to the content of calls, messages, photographs, contacts or financial information on users' devices. It said the system is limited to device identification information needed for compliance.
Traders' concerns
Not everyone is convinced. The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria has raised concerns about the scheme and asked the NCC to provide a window for sensitisation so that all stakeholders understand the plan.
The association said it supports the fight against counterfeit devices but is worried about possible new fees that could add to the burden on its members and on people buying phones.
Supporters of the scheme argue it could also help curb phone theft, since a stolen handset can be knocked off the networks, and could push more revenue to Customs as grey-market imports are checked.
For ordinary phone buyers, the practical takeaway is simple: before paying for a new or second-hand phone, dial *315# to confirm the device is approved for Nigerian networks.
What happens next: The NCC has not said whether it will grant the traders' request for a sensitisation window. Buyers and sellers will be watching for any announcement on fees and enforcement.
