NCC warns unapproved phones may be blocked from Nigerian networks
- The NCC says SIM-enabled devices without type approval and IMEI verification may lose network access.
- Manufacturers, importers, dealers and retailers are told to check existing stock and new imports.
- The commission is working with Customs and has asked businesses to use its support channels.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that mobile phones and other SIM-enabled devices that do not meet its approval rules may be cut off from telecom networks in the country once enforcement takes full effect.
The commission said in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, that it is tightening checks on devices coming into Nigeria. The aim, it said, is to make sure phones sold and used here meet set standards.
For an ordinary buyer, the message is simple: a phone bought from an unverified seller could one day stop working on MTN, Airtel, Glo or 9mobile networks. The NCC has not given a date for when blocking would begin, saying only that it would happen "upon full implementation" under its enforcement framework.
What the NCC is asking for
Every device model meant for import, assembly, distribution or sale in Nigeria must have NCC Type Approval. The commission said this is backed by Section 132 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and Regulation 4 of the Type Approval Regulations 2024.
Manufacturers, importers and other suppliers must also submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of each device for verification before sale. The IMEI is the unique code that identifies a phone on a network.
Distributors, dealers and retailers are to go through the stock already on their shelves and work with suppliers to fix any compliance gaps. New imports must also pass the same checks before they reach the market.
The NCC said it is using technology to verify devices automatically, which it said would help it spot irregularities in how devices are imported and distributed.
Customs and fair competition
The commission is working with the Nigeria Customs Service to match import records and confirm that duties were paid. The NCC said this would also protect businesses that follow the rules from being undercut by those that don't.
Ukoha said the commission had already met manufacturers, importers and industry associations. Businesses that missed those meetings, or are unsure what to do, can get help through the NCC's onboarding channels, its website or by calling 315.
The NCC has not said how many devices or models are affected, nor what happens to phones already in use that fail the checks.
