NCC launches device checker to help Nigerians avoid fake, cloned phones
- The NCC has launched a Device Checker Platform that lets buyers verify a phone's status before paying.
- Officials announced the tool at briefings in Kano and Lagos on Thursday, citing counterfeit and cloned devices.
- The commission says the platform is not a surveillance tool and cannot read messages or personal data.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a platform that lets Nigerians check whether a phone is genuine before they buy it, as the regulator moves against counterfeit, cloned and unauthorised devices in the market.
The Device Checker Platform lets a buyer enter a handset's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number on the commission's website to see the device's type-approval status. The IMEI is usually a 15-digit number that identifies a phone and can be displayed by dialling *#06# on the handset.
NCC officials announced the tool at media briefings on Thursday. In Kano, the Zonal Controller of the NCC's zonal office, Engr. Maigana Gidado, said the platform would strengthen enforcement of technical standards and protect consumers from non-compliant devices. In Lagos, Tunji Jimoh, who heads the commission's Lagos zonal office, said devices connected to Nigerian networks must meet established technical and regulatory standards as the digital economy grows.
According to The Sun, Jimoh spoke on behalf of the NCC's Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida.
Why it matters for buyers
Fake and cloned phones are a common risk in Nigeria's busy phone market, where buyers often pay large sums for handsets that fail quickly or carry hidden problems. A phone that is not type-approved may also pose risks to the networks it connects to.
Under Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, manufacturers, suppliers and service providers must obtain type approval before equipment is sold or used in Nigeria. Type approval checks whether a phone model meets the regulator's technical requirements, while device verification checks information tied to an individual handset.
The NCC said it has also built an application that lets authorised industry players scan IMEI numbers and upload device information directly to its system. It has published a Type Approval and Device Verification Guide for manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers.
The commission said it had simplified its licensing process, allowing a significant number of device dealers in Kano State to obtain licences, and held sensitisation sessions with importers and other stakeholders in Lagos and other parts of the country.
Not a spying tool, NCC says
The commission addressed concerns that the platform could be used to monitor users, saying it is not a surveillance tool. It said the platform cannot access personal data, messages, photographs, contacts or financial information stored on a device, and that its purpose is limited to device identification and regulatory compliance checks.
The NCC also said its wider device management system can help block phones reported stolen across Nigerian networks, though blocking does not establish a phone's physical location or guarantee it will be recovered.
Consumers can check a device at www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker. The commission urged buyers to verify phones before paying and to patronise reputable, licensed dealers. Those needing help can call its 315 toll-free consumer line.