The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the implementation of an automated framework to strengthen compliance with its Type Approval requirements for SIM-enabled communications devices used in Nigeria.
The new technology-enabled system is designed to enable the Commission to electronically determine whether devices meet applicable regulatory and technical standards before they are sold or deployed on Nigerian networks.
The initiative is being implemented through the Device Management System (DMS), which will support the Commission’s oversight of the communications 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 NCC before communications equipment can be sold or used in Nigeria.
The Commission said the automated framework would improve the efficiency and consistency of Type Approval compliance while helping to identify non-compliant and illegally imported devices.
The first phase of the implementation has commenced, with the NCC working with stakeholders including the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers and relevant market associations.
According to the Commission, the ongoing phase focuses on onboarding devices already held in stock, while ensuring that devices imported into Nigeria in the future are properly registered and authenticated.
The measure, it said, would provide a more effective mechanism for detecting devices that do not comply with regulatory requirements 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 basis for establishing a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) for SIM-enabled communications devices in Nigeria.
Ogoh said the Commission embarked on stakeholder consultations and market studies following the issuance of the rules, which informed the design and deployment of the system.
He explained that the central registry would contain the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of communications devices in the country, enabling the NCC to more effectively monitor compliance with Type Approval requirements.
“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 Commission said the system would also address wider challenges associated with the device market, particularly the circulation of illegally imported and non-compliant devices.
Ogoh said the technology would make it easier to identify such devices, while also providing a mechanism for blocking devices reported stolen from operating across Nigerian mobile networks.
He, however, assured users that the platform was designed specifically for device identification and Type Approval compliance and would not give the Commission access to the contents of users’ devices.
According to him, the system maintains device identification information, including IMEI numbers, but does not enable the Commission to monitor users’ personal communications.
The NCC said the framework is part of its broader effort to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s communications device ecosystem, improve compliance with applicable technical and regulatory standards, enhance network performance and strengthen consumer confidence in devices sold and used in the country.
