In an official statement, Director of Public Affairs at the Commission, Nnenna Ukoha, disclosed that the initiative is intended to make Type Approval compliance more efficient, consistent and effective by allowing the Commission to electronically determine the compliance status of SIM-enabled devices. The Device Management System will serve as the technology platform supporting the new automated compliance framework, giving the Commission improved oversight of the country’s device ecosystem.
Under Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, licensed service and facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers are required to obtain Type Approval from the Commission before communications equipment may be sold or used in Nigeria. The rollout of the Device Management System supports the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s communications device ecosystem by improving compliance with technical and regulatory standards, enhancing network performance, facilitating the identification of non-compliant devices, and strengthening consumer confidence in devices sold and used across the country.
The Commission has commenced the first phase of implementing the automated Type Approval compliance framework and is working closely with critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers, importers and relevant market associations. This phase focuses on onboarding existing devices currently held in stock and ensuring that devices imported into the country going forward are appropriately registered and authenticated, giving the Commission a more effective mechanism for identifying non-compliant and illegally imported devices before they enter widespread use.
Speaking on the rollout of the framework, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, explained that the Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024 provided the regulatory framework for establishing a Central Equipment Identity Register that maintains a registry of SIM-enabled communications devices in Nigeria. Following the issuance of the Rules, he said, the Commission commenced extensive stakeholder engagements and market studies, which informed the eventual design and deployment of the system. By establishing a central registry of the International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers of devices in Nigeria, he explained, the Commission will be better positioned to ensure effective and efficient compliance with its Type Approval requirements and to ensure that devices imported into, sold and used in Nigeria meet applicable standards.
With the deployment of the system, all SIM-enabled communications devices brought into the country must be registered before they are sold, and devices that are not duly registered will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian networks. Engr. Ogoh added that beyond improving Type Approval compliance, the technology will help address wider challenges associated with the device market, noting that illegally imported and non-compliant devices will be easier to identify, while devices reported stolen can be blocked from use across Nigerian mobile networks.
Engr. Ogoh further assured the public that the platform is designed solely to support device identification and Type Approval compliance. It maintains device identification information, including IMEI numbers, but does not provide the Commission with access to the content of users’ devices, nor does it enable the Commission to monitor personal communications.
