NCC Moves to Block Unregistered SIM-Enabled Devices From Nigerian Networks
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is strengthening its enforcement of Type Approval requirements for SIM-enabled communications devices in Nigeria through an automated technology-driven compliance framework.
Under the new arrangement, SIM-enabled devices entering the Nigerian market will be required to be registered and authenticated before they can be sold, while unregistered devices will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian telecommunications networks.
The initiative is being implemented through the Commission’s Device Management System (DMS), which is designed to provide a centralised mechanism for monitoring devices and improving regulatory oversight of the communications equipment ecosystem.
The NCC said the measure is part of efforts to ensure that communications equipment imported, sold and used in Nigeria complies with applicable technical and regulatory standards.
It explained that Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 requires licensed service and facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain Type Approval from the Commission before communications equipment can be sold or used in the country.
According to the Commission, the automated framework will strengthen compliance, improve network performance, facilitate the detection of non-compliant devices and boost consumer confidence in communications equipment available in the Nigerian market.
The first phase of the implementation has commenced, with the NCC working with the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers and relevant market associations.
The initial phase is focused on onboarding devices already held in stock while ensuring that new devices imported into the country are properly registered and authenticated.
The Commission said the system would provide a more effective mechanism for detecting non-compliant and illegally imported devices before they become widely used on Nigerian networks.
Speaking on the rollout, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, said the Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024 provided the regulatory foundation for establishing a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).
The CEIR, he explained, is designed to maintain a central registry of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of SIM-enabled communications devices operating in Nigeria.
Ogoh said the Commission conducted extensive stakeholder engagements and market studies following the issuance of the rules, leading to the design and deployment of the automated system.
He said the central registry would enable the NCC to more effectively enforce Type Approval requirements and ensure that communications devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria meet prescribed standards.
“With the deployment of this system, all SIM-enabled communications devices brought into the country must be registered before they are sold. Devices that are not duly registered will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian networks,” he said.
The NCC said the initiative would also help tackle broader challenges within the country’s device market.
According to the Commission, illegally imported and non-compliant devices would become easier to identify, while devices reported stolen could be blocked from operating across Nigerian mobile networks.
The Commission, however, assured consumers that the system is not designed to monitor their personal communications or access the contents of their devices.
Ogoh explained that the platform would focus solely on device identification and Type Approval compliance, with information maintained by the system including device identification details such as IMEI numbers.
He stressed that the platform would neither give the Commission access to the contents of users’ devices nor enable it to monitor personal communications.
The NCC said the initiative represents another step towards strengthening the integrity, security and reliability of Nigeria’s telecommunications device ecosystem while ensuring greater compliance with regulatory standards.
