The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July.

The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

The NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.).

A portion of the policy said, “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.”

The NCC said, “With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.

“The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.

“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”

The IMEI number is the mobile phone’s fingerprint. It is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.

According to an expert that helps the Nigerian Police track stolen phones, who asked for anonymity, said, “The IMEI of a phone allows us to track the phone.

“It allows us to track the phone’s information, people the phone calls each day and the house address of the people that call on the phone.”

The expert added, “I can’t disclose how the IMEI of a phone works. It is sensitive information. Leaking the secret helps the people stealing the phone bypass the information.

“Some people already try to change the IMEI of stolen phones, but we know what to do to get the original one.”

With this move, the NCC will have the IMEI numbers, NIN, and mobile numbers of every Nigerian.

Pauldollars:
Do NCC think every Nigerian use the same phone for years?

Richy4:


Very simple... the criteria of purchasing any simpack is always that you register it there and then before it will be handed to you... it usually takes 2mins to register at any shop...That will reduce crime alot in Nigeria... I'm even surprised that it has not been introduced in Nigeria in this modern time...Every shop that sells sim is linked with network providers...

Richy4:


Very simple... the criteria of purchasing any simpack is always that you register it there and then before it will be handed to you... it usually takes 2mins to register at any shop...That will reduce crime alot in Nigeria... I'm even surprised that it has not been introduced in Nigeria in this modern time...Every shop that sells sim is linked with network providers...

1Alex:
Some people who use some of those 3k tecno phones change them every now and then due to the nature of their work. So they will also be submitting their IMEI every month?

Pauldollars:
Do NCC think every Nigerian use the same phone for years?

1Alex:
no be SIM dem dey talk na IMEI of your phone.

Richy4:


It will reduce the effect of mobile phone thefts... It has many advantages... even the the UK has that law.. Just google it

wolfenstein:

Who told u, if they still want to steal the phone they will. The ones they have stolen, has anything been done about finding it? To track phone self is a problem if u provide them with the imei when ur phone is stolen. The next thing u will see is government will use us to be cashing out on that aspect. Releasing our imei to this present government will be the worse thing ever

They will steal your phone... yes but it will be useless.. because you will report and it will be locked. before it's opened, Questions like
IS it a SIM Locked? Was this phone stolen or lost? and so on ..All this uncomfortable questions would be asked and it will be dictated in the system when the person comes to unlock... It would deter some people from buying stolen phones..And before any phone is opened, you come with some ID...Like international passport, Local ID not birth certificate ....

ChiefSosa:
Na landline I dey use

Richy4:


They will steal your phone... yes but it will be useless.. because you will report and it will be locked. before it's opened, Questions like
IS it a SIM Locked? Was this phone stolen or lost? and so on ..All this uncomfortable questions would be asked and it will be dictated in the system when the person comes to unlock... It would deter some people from buying stolen phones