NCC strengthens type approval rules for SIM-enabled devices‎

• NCC rolls out automated Device Management System to track SIM-enabled devices nationwide

• New framework targets illegally imported and non-compliant phones flooding the Nigerian market

• Stolen devices can now be blacklisted across all Nigerian mobile networks
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‎Confiance News has learned that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is tightening enforcement of its Type Approval requirements for communications devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria, rolling out a technology-enabled framework aimed at improving compliance across the device ecosystem.
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‎According to a press release sighted by Confiance News, the Commission is deploying the initiative in furtherance of its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act, which requires that all communications devices circulating in the country meet applicable technical and regulatory standards.
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‎What the new framework does
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‎Confiance News gathered that the initiative is designed to make Type Approval compliance more efficient, consistent and effective by enabling the Commission to electronically determine whether SIM-enabled devices meet approval standards.
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‎Central to this effort is the Device Management System (DMS), which the NCC says will serve as the technology platform supporting the automated compliance framework. The system is expected to give the Commission stronger oversight of the device ecosystem, moving away from manual compliance checks toward an automated, technology-driven process.
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‎Legal backing and industry rollout
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‎Confiance News confirmed that the framework draws its authority from Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which mandates that licensed service providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers obtain Type Approval from the Commission before any communications equipment is sold or used in Nigeria.
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‎Per the statement obtained by Confiance News, the DMS is intended to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s device ecosystem by improving compliance with technical and regulatory standards, enhancing network performance, aiding the identification of non-compliant devices, and boosting consumer confidence in devices sold locally.
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‎The Commission disclosed that it has already commenced the first phase of implementing the automated framework, working closely with key stakeholders including the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers and relevant market associations.
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‎Focus on existing stock and future imports
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‎Confiance News learned that the current phase of the rollout is focused on two fronts: onboarding devices already held in stock across the market, and ensuring that devices imported into Nigeria going forward are properly registered and authenticated.
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‎The Commission said this approach will give it a more effective mechanism for flagging non-compliant and illegally imported devices before they enter widespread use, a challenge that has long undermined efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s telecoms device market.
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‎Beyond compliance, a tool against device theft and fraud
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‎In remarks sighted by Confiance News, the framework’s backers indicated that the technology is expected to address broader challenges tied to Nigeria’s device market beyond regulatory compliance alone. Illegally imported and non-compliant devices will become easier to identify under the new system, while devices reported stolen can be blacklisted from use across Nigerian mobile networks, a measure likely to be welcomed by consumers who have long raised concerns over phone theft and the resale of stolen handsets.
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‎NCC moves to allay privacy concerns
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‎Anticipating public unease over expanded device monitoring, the Commission moved to clarify the limits of the new system. Confiance News gathered that the DMS is designed solely to support device identification and Type Approval compliance.
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‎The platform maintains device identification information, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, but the Commission stressed that it does not provide access to the content of users’ devices, nor does it enable the Commission to monitor personal communications, an assurance aimed at drawing a clear line between compliance monitoring and communications surveillance.
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‎Why it matters
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‎The initiative lands at a time when Nigeria’s telecoms sector continues to grapple with a proliferation of substandard and illegally imported devices, a problem regulators say degrades network performance, exposes consumers to unsafe or non-compliant hardware and complicates efforts to combat handset theft. By automating Type Approval enforcement through the DMS, the NCC appears to be positioning itself to close long-standing gaps in device oversight, particularly at the point of import, where enforcement has historically been difficult to sustain.
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‎The statement was signed by Nnenna Ukoha, Director of the Public Affairs Department at the NCC, and dated September 9, 2026.
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‎Further details on the next phases of the DMS rollout, including a possible timeline for full nationwide implementation, were not disclosed in the statement. Confiance News will provide updates as more information becomes available.