- To neutralize vulnerabilities exploited by digital criminals, syndicates
BY COBHAM NSA – In one of Africa’s largest digital security operations, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially registered 231 million mobile devices as part of measures designed to bar unauthorized network access across the country.
According to the Commission, the massive database rollout serves as the frontline of defense in an aggressive new crackdown that flags off its effective implementation of a new verification system to put in check counterfeit, cloned and unapproved phones that target illicit network connections and pose cyber threats nationwide.
Defending its decision to embark on this aggressive tightening the noose on rogue actors, NCC said the intention is to completely block unapproved access to telecom networks, explaining that by anchoring hundreds of millions of active devices to verified identities, regulators will ultimately choke off the digital avenues frequently exploited by cyber-criminals, fraudsters, and unauthorized network intruders.
It said the initiative is part of its mandate delivery as the telecommunications industry regulator to strengthen consumer protection, improve network quality and enable regulators to track devices imported and sold in the country.
Speaking at a media conference on the implementation of the Device Checker and Type Approval Compliance framework in Abuja on Tuesday, the NCC Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Dr Edoyemi Ogoh, said the commission has automatically captured devices already operating on Nigerian networks before the verification system became fully operational.
Dr Ogoh, who explained that the proactive action effectively removed the need for existing subscribers to undertake additional registration, told the journalists: “We had already registered about 231 million devices across the country. And those devices, basically, you don’t have to do anything. The subscriber does not have to do anything.”
He said with the NCC automatically grandfathering all active mobile devices into its new verification system, subscribers currently using the network can breathe a sigh of relief, adding that this forward looking measure completely eliminates the bureaucratic headache of additional registration for phones already in use before the system became fully automated.
However, the Director warned that the gates are closing on unverified imports moving forward, with the Commission insisting that newly introduced devices face a strict gatekeeping process and must fully satisfy verification requirements before they can link to any local telecommunications network.
Ogoh said there is no cause for alarm among subscribers as the arrangement was made to create a sharp dividing line between devices already active in the market and those arriving under the new regulatory framework.
Addressing widespread anxiety over potential mass disconnections, Ogoh reassured that there will be no retrospective network bans for older devices, maintaining that even if a previously connected phone fails to meet NCC’s newly minted approval standards, it will remain safely connected.
The Director, while stressing that the policy looks squarely toward securing the future of the network, rather than penalizing consumers for the past, said: “We are not blacklisting those that have come up before this”, adding that the decision was intended to protect consumers who purchased devices without having access to verification tools.
For him, this sweeping new framework is designed to completely block any further non-compliant devices from infiltrating Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem, shutting the door on substandard hardware, adding that NCC will ensure strict enforcement through robust partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), device manufacturers, authorized importers, and dealers to guarantee every single imported device is rigorously authenticated before it ever hits the commercial market.
Crucially, Ogoh said the regulatory system hands enforcement agents unprecedented tracking power, allowing them to pinpoint the exact importer, precise date of importation, and the total quantity of individual devices.
He stated that with this high level of granular transparency, the Commission is fundamentally strengthening its crack-down on illicit supply chains and aggressively routing out suppliers of counterfeit products, assuring that the framework would also prevent additional non-compliant devices from entering the telecommunications ecosystem.
Tying the initiative to the introduction of Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, Dr Ogoh referenced Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which demands that telecommunications equipment must obtain regulatory approval before being sold or used in Nigeria, cautioning that counterfeit devices could contribute to poor network quality because faulty equipment sometimes interferes with telecommunications infrastructure, affecting other subscribers using the same cell site.
Speaking earlier at the briefing, Nnenna Ukoha, the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, drove home the core mission of the new initiative, with a direct challenge to the press to always keep Nigerians informed on latest developments in the nation’s telecommunications industry and beyond.
Ukoha framed the rollout not just as a policy shift, but as a critical campaign to fortify telecommunications safety, elevate network quality, and cement consumer protection across the country, expressing concern that without public buy-in, even the most robust regulatory reforms risk failure.
Further tasking journalists on providing accurate and balanced information to help Nigerians understand the Device Checker, its benefits and their responsibilities when purchasing communications equipment, she said widespread and effective public understanding are vital to successfully implement these new standards.
Ukoha, who urged media practitioners to serve as a critical link between the regulator and the public, maintained that clear communication is vital for regulatory policies to impact grassroots consumers.
On her part, NCC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Olasumbo Olawaiye, reinforced the call for a permanent alliance with the Media and pressing on sustained engagement, she said, “We encourage your continued support in creating public awareness about this initiative”.
Furthermore, Olawaiye, who noted that NCC’s goals cannot be achieved in a vacuum, appreciated the huge turnout of journalists at the briefing, assuring them the doors will always remain open for continuous reporting, with Cmmission’s media relations office ever ready for ongoing enquiries.
