By Abigail Mbah
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has partnered with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to prevent counterfeit, cloned and substandard mobile phones and other communication devices from entering Nigeria and connecting to local networks.
The partnership is part of an enhanced Type Approval Compliance framework designed to ensure that communication devices imported into the country meet approved technical standards before they are sold or connected to telecommunications networks.
Edoyemi Ogoh, NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja, explaining that the collaboration would enable the commission to identify and intercept non-compliant devices at the point of entry rather than waiting until they circulate in the market.
Under the arrangement, the NCC will electronically verify the Type Approval status of SIM-enabled devices in collaboration with Customs. Devices already in stock are being registered on the system, while newly imported equipment will undergo verification to establish compliance before gaining access to local networks.
“Type Approval is a critical consumer protection and regulatory tool, rather than merely an administrative requirement,” Ogoh said, noting that the framework would help safeguard network integrity and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The initiative is expected to tighten controls on the importation and distribution of unapproved communication equipment, including mobile phones, modems, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and tablets, which have continued to circulate through informal and open retail markets.
The NCC said the framework derives its authority from Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. The commission issued its Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and subsequently consulted manufacturers, importers, distributors, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders ahead of the implementation of the enhanced compliance system.
With the new arrangement, importers and distributors of communication devices face stricter regulatory checks, while unapproved equipment could be intercepted at the borders or denied access to Nigerian telecommunications networks.
Ogoh urged consumers to verify the Type Approval status of SIM-enabled devices before purchasing them, warning that the use of uncertified equipment could compromise network performance and expose users to other risks.
To facilitate verification, the commission has introduced a Device Checker service through which consumers can confirm the approval status of devices by dialling *315# or visiting its official online portal.
The collaboration represents a shift towards stronger border-level enforcement of telecommunications equipment standards, as the NCC intensifies efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit and substandard devices, protect consumers and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s communications infrastructure.