NCC BEGINS REGISTRATION OF SIM-ENABLED DEVICES TO CURB ILLEGAL IMPORTS

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun the registration and verification of SIM-enabled devices operating in Nigeria as part of measures to tackle illegally imported and non-compliant communication equipment.

The commission said the new system would establish a central database for devices in the country, while requiring SIM-enabled equipment imported into Nigeria to be registered before being sold, warning  that devices that are not registered may be blocked from accessing Nigerian mobile networks.

The NCC said the initiative is designed to improve compliance with its Type Approval rules, which require communication equipment sold or used in the country to meet approved technical and regulatory standards

The commission’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity,  EDOYEMI  OGOH, said the Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024 provided the regulatory basis for establishing a Central Equipment Identity Register,  a framework designed to strengthen the monitoring and verification of devices operating on Nigerian networks.