Nigerians To Start Submitting Their Phone’s IMEI Number By July — NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July, 2021.

In their Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration, the NCC declared this. It claims that the new policy, which was authorized by President Muhammadu Buhari, will allow the government to identify every phone in use in Nigeria.

“Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has commanded that the Device Management System be implemented within three months,” according to a section of the policy.

To combat the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, improve national security, protect consumer interests, increase government revenue generation, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the ways to do so is through the use of technology.

The establishment of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register, also known as a Device Management System, will act as a repository for all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and their owners.

IMEIs that have been identified as stolen or illegal will be shared with all operators and service providers through the DMS.”