To discourage continued use of fake and substandard mobile phones, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) is being asked to compel telecommunications operators to switch off all fake and substandard mobile phones on their network


Nigeria has for a long time remained one of the biggest destinations for fake and counterfeit phone shipments. This is fuelled by the poor state of the economy which has made huge demand for cheap mobile phones and accessories more of a necessity. Counterfeit phones are copies of popular brands and models made from sub-standard materials.

However, aside the fact that the government has lost huge revenue in the form of taxes and loss of potential employment opportunities, experts have said that the trade in counterfeit phones has been leaving sour taste in the mouths of consumers and network providers. Such phones, they insist, are said to be responsible for the poor quality of service being experienced in the country.

In order to ensure that the use or sale of substandard phones is completely eradicated, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among other concerned stakeholders have continued to mount pressure on the phone sellers. In the some cases, both NCC and SON have at different stages, stormed the shops where such phones are being sold to effect seizures and at times, arresting the dealers. Despite this, importers and sellers of these substandard phones have remained undeterred as fake phones and accessories still fl ood the Nigerian market.

In a new twist to the campaign against fake and substandard mobile phones in the country, stakeholders especially, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) believe the best way to eradicate them from circulation would be to compel the telecommunications operators to switch off all fake and substandard mobile phones from their networks. In order to achieve this, the association has called on NCC to compel the telecos to switch off the fake phones in order to render them useless. Though reliable statistics are hard to come by, it is believed that more than half of all phones in the country are fake or sub-standard.

Lanre Ajayi, ATCON President said that any device that is not type approved by the NCC should not be used on any of the network, thus, he urged NCC to fi nd a way to ensure that such devices, including phones are not allowed to work on any network in the country.

The ban is expected to affect devices that do not have an International Mobile Equipment Identity code — the 15-digit number that identifi es each mobile device and facilitates their traceability.

Findings have shown that there are technologies which allow fake phones to be switched off and barred from receiving; making calls; or carrying other network activities. The technologies bar only the phones as Subscriber Identifi cation Module (SIM) cards can still be transferred to genuine mobile phones and no data will be lost. A mobile phone is deemed fake if its IMEI number – the unique identifi er for each phone – is not recognised by an international database.

Dr. Alex Ukwuani, an ICT security expert said that fake phones have both safety and security perspectives. “A criminal can use fake mobile phone to perpetuate crime and it will be diffi cult for the security agencies to trace the culprit” he added.

In a renewed bid to protect consumers from substandard phones and other devices; NCC has warned companies still fl outing its regulation on typeapproval for all telecom devices and equipment to stop forthwith or face the consequences. NCC said that it would visit mobile phones and equipment vendors with harsh punitive measures if they fail to comply with standard regulations framework within the next two week.

The NCC has previously shut down mobile phone vendors over distribution and sale of non-type approved devices in the country. The Commission accused vendors of endangering lives of consumers with substandard mobile devices.

Tony Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs of the Commission said in media advertorials that mobile handsets and other telecommunication equipment/ devices which have not been type approved by the Commission that are being advertised for sale in some national dailies were given a “14 days pre-enforcement and warning notice” effective November 26 to ensure that all telecommunications devices are type approved” by it before they are offered for sale in the open market.

Ojobo stated that the Commission has the enforcement right to arrest and prosecute offenders. They also threaten to “confi scate devices that are not type approved.”

Last February, the Commission shut down 17 fi rms at the Lagos ‘Computer Village’ taunted as the largest ICT market in the African continent.

Idehen Efosa, head of enforcement, NCC who led a team of staffers and security personnel to the raids said the Commission began clampdown of the offending fi rms in 2011; and noted that it was an effort to rid the country of fake and substandard mobile equipment.

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