Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July 2021.
IMEI is an identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.
They are independent of phone numbers and are usually stamped beneath the battery on the back of the handset.
NCC said this directive is to be implemented within three months, as contained in the revised national identity policy for SIM card registration which was released on May 11, 2021.
The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.
NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A portion of the policy said;
Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.
With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, 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 means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.
The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.
IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.
The purpose is to ensure that such devices do not work even if different SIM cards are inserted in those devices.
NCC stated;
DMS will also provide access to all operators to cross-check the IMEIs and their status before allowing a device to become active on their network. Furthermore, registered mobile phone technicians will also be provided with an interface to check IMEIs and ensure it has not been reported as stolen or illegal before they render their technical services.
With this move, NCC will have IMEI numbers, NIN, and mobile numbers of every Nigerian.
