By Abigail Mbah
Nigeria is set to roll out a nationwide system that will make every mobile phone traceable through its unique IMEI number, as the Nigerian Communications Commission tightens control over devices connecting to the country’s networks.
Under the Device Management System, or DMS, SIM-enabled phones and other communications devices must be registered before they can be sold or activated on any network. Licensed importers will need to secure type approval from the NCC, upload the IMEI numbers along with purchase invoices to a central portal, pay a validation fee, and obtain a pre-authorisation code. That code will then be checked by the Nigeria Customs Service before the handset is cleared and whitelisted for use.
Once fully operational, devices that are not registered will be blocked from connecting. The same applies to phones reported as stolen, cloned, or lacking proper type approval. The system is designed to create a single national registry of device identities, giving regulators a clearer view of what is circulating in a market long dominated by informal imports and grey-market trade.
Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC’s director of technical standards and network integrity, said the central registry of IMEI numbers will help ensure devices meet required standards and improve compliance with type-approval rules. The commission has stressed that the platform will hold device information but will not give regulators access to the contents of anyone’s phone or private communications.
The first phase focuses on onboarding existing stock already in the country and new imports going forward. The deadline for registering devices currently held by importers, dealers and vendors was extended to 6 October 2026 after stakeholders raised concerns about the original timeline and difficulties completing the process on the portal. Existing stock is eligible for free registration during this window, while newly imported devices will attract administrative charges of about ₦670 for lower-cost or feature phones and slightly more than ₦3,700 for high-end models.
Those fees have become a flashpoint. Phone prices in Nigeria have already climbed sharply in recent years under pressure from currency volatility, higher shipping costs and inflation. Budget handsets that once sold for ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 now often range from ₦75,000 to ₦150,000, with mid-range and premium devices rising in tandem. Industry players worry that the new validation charges, even if modest on paper, will be passed along the supply chain and could be inflated further by importers and distributors.
Traders’ groups have said they support the goal of cleaning up the market but oppose the fee structure, arguing that original equipment manufacturers, distributors and dealers are unlikely to absorb the cost and will shift it to buyers. Smaller operators and repair shops, which form a large part of the informal ecosystem, face additional hurdles. Many operate on thin margins and may struggle with licensing requirements or the practicalities of registering devices, especially used or repaired phones whose IMEI numbers can sometimes be altered during legitimate servicing.
Phone theft remains a major problem. National Bureau of Statistics figures recorded more than 25 million phone theft cases between May 2023 and April 2024, making it the most common individual crime reported in that period. A functioning national blacklist of stolen IMEIs could reduce the resale value of stolen devices and discourage the practice. Counterfeit and substandard phones have also long been a concern, both for network quality and consumer safety.
Customs officials have indicated support for the system, saying it should close loopholes that allowed devices to enter without proper declaration. Licensed importers could benefit if the policy levels the playing field against those who currently avoid duties and formal processes.
Yet questions remain about how smoothly the transition will work for ordinary users and smaller businesses. What happens to a legitimate second-hand phone with an unclear history? How will the system handle a device whose IMEI was damaged during a genuine repair? And how quickly will appeals be resolved if a phone is wrongly blocked?
The DMS represents one of the most ambitious efforts yet to bring structure to Nigeria’s device market. Its success will depend less on how many IMEIs are entered into the database and more on whether it can curb illegal and counterfeit devices without shutting out legitimate trade or pricing more people out of digital access. The coming weeks of onboarding and the eventual start of enforcement will show how the balance is struck.