Nigeria's NCC urges mobile phone verification to ensure quality

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has advised consumers to verify mobile devices before purchase to ensure they are genuine and meet national standards. Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, stated that the initiative aims to protect consumers from counterfeit or imitation products and to maintain telecommunications network quality.

Under the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003, the commission is required to conduct type approval for devices entering the country. This process ensures that hardware functions as intended and does not negatively impact the service quality of other users in the same network environment.

To verify a device, consumers can dial *315# on their handsets and enter the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. Alternatively, the commission provides a device checker on its official website. This tool allows buyers, particularly those purchasing second-hand or imported handsets, to confirm if a device has received the necessary type approval for use on Nigerian mobile networks.