Business
By Anthony Isibor
THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has developed a device-scanning application to help authorised phone dealers, distributors and other industry participants verify and upload device identification information more efficiently.
The application is part of the commission’s broader Device Checker initiative, which aims to strengthen regulatory compliance, improve device verification and reduce the circulation of counterfeit and non-compliant telecommunications equipment in Nigeria.
Kings Adeyemi, Head of the NCC Wireless Network, Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, disclosed this during a media briefing at the commission’s Lagos Zonal Office on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.
Adeyemi said that the new application was developed after the commission identified challenges associated with manually entering device identification numbers into the verification platform.
He explained that businesses handling large inventories could face considerable administrative work when entering the International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI, numbers of individual devices.
Manual entry could also produce errors, including incorrect numbers and duplicate submissions.
The scanning application is intended to reduce these problems by allowing authorised users to scan device identification information and compile the results in a tabular format before uploading them to the platform.
Adeyemi said users could scan the identification information on devices in their inventory and have the application capture the details automatically.
The captured information is then organised into a table that can be reviewed before submission.
He explained that the application can handle large inventories and identify duplicate entries.
For instance, where a device is scanned more than once, the system can flag the duplicate during the submission process.
This feature is intended to help users identify and correct errors before uploading their records.
The commission expects the application to reduce the administrative burden on businesses that need to process substantial numbers of devices.
However, the briefing did not provide figures on the number of businesses already using the application or the time and cost savings recorded since its introduction.
The scanning application forms part of the NCC’s Device Checker Platform, which supports the verification of device identification information and regulatory compliance.
According to Adeyemi, the system works with relevant device identification databases and the commission’s type-approval records.
The objective is to help establish whether devices meet the applicable requirements for use on Nigerian telecommunications networks.
The commission explained that the initiative is necessary because counterfeit and non-compliant devices can interfere with network operations and affect other users.
According to Adeyemi, compliant mobile phones and base stations coordinate radio transmission power to maintain communication and limit unnecessary interference.
Devices that fail to meet the relevant technical requirements may not operate as expected and could affect the performance of other equipment in the same area.
Tunji Jimoh, Director of the NCC Lagos Zonal Office, said that the commission had undertaken sensitisation engagements with importers and other industry participants in Lagos and other parts of the country.
The engagements were intended to improve understanding of the type approval and device verification obligations.
Jimoh also disclosed that the commission has made progress in licensing and regularising device dealers in Kano State, enabling a significant number of businesses to obtain licences.
He said that the initiatives were intended to improve accountability across the device supply chain and encourage compliance with the commission’s regulatory requirements.
The NCC has also made online guidance available to industry participants and that the device-verification guide cited during the briefing can be accessed at www.ncc.gov.ng/devicecheckerguide.
The commission provides additional information on equipment type approval and the requirements for applying for approval through its industry resources.
Adeyemi explained that type approval involves the assessment of a specific brand and model of telecommunications equipment against applicable technical requirements.
Manufacturers submit samples and technical documentation to the regulator for evaluation and where the equipment meets the requirements, the regulator grants approval for the model.
The NCC maintains records of approved equipment models, which relevant authorities and industry participants can consult.
Adeyemi explained that type approval is a requirement for applicable equipment entering the Nigerian market, while the Device Checker complements that process by providing a system for checking device identification information and supporting compliance monitoring.
Although the scanning application is intended primarily to simplify compliance for authorised industry participants, the commission said that consumers could use its online resources to verify devices before purchase.
Jimoh identified the NCC’s consumer portal as www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker and that consumers can generally retrieve their device’s IMEI by dialing *#06# and use the relevant identification information to conduct a check through the official portal.
The NCC urged buyers to patronise reputable, licensed dealers and seek clarification when a device’s identification or approval status is uncertain.
It also identified 315 as a unified short code for consumer support and related services.
Jimoh said that the NCC would continue to work with industry participants and the media to improve public awareness of device verification and compliance.
However, the broader objective of the NCC is to make compliance easier for legitimate businesses, while helping the commission to identify non-compliant equipment and protect the integrity of the country’s telecommunications networks.
A.I
Oct. 29, 2026
Tags: Kings Adeyemi NCC Tunji Jimoh
