The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that its enhanced device compliance framework cannot access private information stored on their phones and other SIM-enabled devices, amid growing concerns over data privacy as stricter equipment verification measures take effect.
The Commission said the framework, which relies on device identification details such as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, was designed to verify regulatory approval and technical compliance, not to monitor subscribers or access their personal information.
Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, gave the assurance at a news conference in Abuja, following concerns among telecommunications subscribers about the privacy implications of the device-checking initiative.
Ogoh explained that the framework does not grant the Commission access to users’ messages, photographs, contacts, financial information or other personal data stored on their devices.
“The Type Approval Compliance framework is not designed for surveillance and does not provide the Commission with access to the content of communications, photographs, messages, contacts, financial information or any other personal information stored on users’ devices,” he said.
The NCC said the initiative would help identify non-compliant, cloned and counterfeit devices, strengthen telecommunications network integrity and improve consumer confidence in equipment sold in the Nigerian market.
The Commission explained that the framework would enable regulators to verify devices against established technical standards and identify equipment that had not obtained the required regulatory approval.
Addressing concerns about the possible impact on existing subscribers, the Commission said devices already connected to telecommunications networks before the new system became operational would not be retrospectively disconnected, including those that might not meet current approval standards.
It added that devices already in stock were being onboarded into the compliance framework, while newly imported equipment would be subjected to verification and authentication requirements.
The NCC is also collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service, manufacturers, importers and dealers to authenticate telecommunications devices before they enter the Nigerian market.
According to the Commission, the system will help regulators establish information about importers, import dates and quantities of individual devices, strengthening enforcement against counterfeit products and improving accountability across the supply chain.
The initiative covers SIM-enabled equipment, including mobile phones, tablets, modems and point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
The Commission said the framework was backed by Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which requires relevant licensed service providers, facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain Type Approval before communications equipment is sold or used in Nigeria.
The NCC issued its Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and subsequently engaged manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecommunications operators, government agencies and industry associations to gather input and support implementation.
The Commission said the consultations were intended to promote industry-wide understanding of the requirements and ensure a coordinated approach to device compliance.
As implementation progresses, the NCC has urged consumers to confirm the approval status of telecommunications devices before purchasing them, particularly SIM-enabled phones, tablets, modems and POS terminals.
Ogoh advised buyers to ask sellers whether their devices had received NCC Type Approval, warning that non-compliant equipment could undermine network performance and expose consumers to avoidable security risks.
The Commission said it would sustain engagement with industry stakeholders and intensify public awareness efforts to educate Nigerians on the framework’s objectives, requirements and implications.
The NCC maintained that the device compliance initiative was intended to protect consumers, improve the quality of telecommunications equipment in circulation and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s communications networks without compromising the privacy of subscribers.