The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stepped up efforts to enforce Type Approval requirements for SIM-enabled communications devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria.
The move is part of the Commission’s mandate to ensure that communications equipment entering and operating in the country complies with established technical and regulatory standards.
To strengthen enforcement, the NCC is deploying a technology-enabled framework through its Device Management System (DMS). The system will enable the Commission to electronically verify whether SIM-enabled devices have met the required Type Approval conditions.
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.
According to the Commission, the DMS will improve oversight of Nigeria’s communications device ecosystem, strengthen compliance, enhance network performance and make it easier to identify non-compliant devices. The initiative is also expected to boost consumer confidence in devices available in the Nigerian market.
First Phase of Implementation
The NCC said it has commenced the first phase of implementing the automated Type Approval compliance framework and is working with key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers and relevant market associations.
The initial phase focuses on registering existing devices held in stock while ensuring that devices imported into Nigeria in the future are properly registered and authenticated.
This, the Commission said, will provide a more effective mechanism for identifying non-compliant and illegally imported devices 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 foundation for establishing a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).
The CEIR will maintain a central registry of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of SIM-enabled communications devices in Nigeria.
Ogoh explained that the Commission’s extensive stakeholder consultations and market studies following the issuance of the Rules informed the design and deployment of the new system.
He said the central registry would enable the NCC to more effectively ensure that devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria comply with applicable standards.
Under the new framework, SIM-enabled communications devices brought into Nigeria must be registered before they are sold. Devices that have not been duly registered will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian mobile networks.
Tackling Illegal and Stolen Devices
Beyond Type Approval compliance, the NCC said the system will help address wider challenges within Nigeria’s device market.
The technology will make it easier to identify illegally imported and non-compliant devices, while devices reported stolen can be identified and blocked from operating across Nigerian mobile networks.
The Commission also sought to reassure consumers about privacy, stressing that the platform is designed specifically for device identification and Type Approval compliance.
According to the NCC, the system will maintain device identification information, including IMEI numbers, but will not give the Commission access to the content of users’ devices or enable it to monitor personal communications.
The initiative represents another step by the NCC towards strengthening regulatory oversight of Nigeria’s growing communications device ecosystem while improving compliance, network integrity and consumer protection.
