Five types of phones NCC say go stop to dey work for Nigeria
- Author, Bashir Zubairu Ahmad
- Role, Multimedia Journalist
- Reporting from, Abuja
- Published
- Read am in 5 mins
Di Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) don announce say dem don start one new system to check mobile phones and oda communication devices wey pipo dey use for Nigeria and say dem go block some phones wey no get registration to work for di kontri.
NCC tell BBC di new system na part of plan to improve di standards for identifying telecommunications devices, wey come into effect from October 7, 2026, to curb di spread of fake phones and protect di security of telecommunications networks for di kontri.
Di commission say di aim na to make sure say all devices wey dem dey sell or use for Nigeria meet di required standards and protect pipo wey dey use di services.
Malam Usman Mamman, du Director of Licensing for di Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), tell di BBC say "no be new tin, say NCC get law for am".
Wetin NCC tok?
Di agency advise pipo, especially dose wey dey buy fairly used phones (second-hand phones), make dem first verify di phone bifor dem pay money for am, so dem no go buy phones wey no get approval to use for Nigeria.
"All phone matas dey under our agency. Na we dey issue licence, and evri phone wey enta this kontri must pass our verification. E no be new law," Malam Usman tok.
The Director wey dey oversee licensing add say dem dey send special codes give people to check whether their phones meet the requirements to be used for Nigeria.
According to am, na through dat process pesin go know if NCC don verify di phone. If e no be so, di pesin go need find way to verify am.
Di agency also say all phones wey already dey connected to Nigerian communication networks bifor di implementation of di system on 7 October 2026 don already pass verification automatically. Becos of dat, most users no go need take any extra action.
Which kain phones and devices NCC go block?
NCC say di new system for verifying communication devices get di aim of stopping devices wey no meet di required standards from connecting to mobile networks for Nigeria.
Di commission Director of Licensing, Usman Mamman, say some devices wey dem dey bring enta Nigeria get defects, including some wey no fit make or receive calls properly.
E still warn say some of dis devices fit put public safety and national security for danger.
Types of phones and devices wey di new NCC system affect:
- Smartphones: Modern phones wey no meet NCC standards fit lose access to some mobile network services for Nigeria.
- Basic mobile phones: Small phones wey pipo dey use mainly for calls and text messages also fall under di system if dem no meet di required standards.
- SIM-enabled tablets and laptops: Tablets, laptops, including iPads and oda devices wey dey use SIM cards for calls or connectivity fit face blocking if dem no meet di standards.
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices: Dis na devices wey dey use internet to communicate or carry out online activities, such as routers.
- SIM-enabled POS devices: POS machines wey businesses dey use to collect payments through bank cards or oda payment methods also dey covered by di system if dem neva register dem.
However, NCC also publish for dia website on 2 October 2026 say e get more dan 2,000 phone models wey don get approval for use for Nigeria.
Wetin pesin go do if phone no get registration?
NCC emphasise say dis new system no mean say pipo wey dey already use phones must change dia phones.
Di agency say dem don create different ways for anybodi wey wan check weda dia phone get registration, according to Usman Mamman.
How to check if your phone get registration:
1. Dial 315#
Dial *315# free of charge. You no need pay any money.
Di result go show weda NCC don verify your phone or not.
If di phone neva get verification, dem go show you di steps to follow.
2. Visit NCC website
Go to ncc.gov.ng.
Information dey dia on how pesin fit check weda dia phone get registration.
3. Call 622
You fit call 622.
Dem go explain how you fit verify your phone or any oda device, as Mamman explain.
NCC say dem go block unapproved phones afta 30 days
NCC say dem give mobile phone users for Nigeria 30 days to verify dia phones. Afta dat period, any phone wey no meet di required standards or get any defect no go work again for Nigeria.
Di agency also explain say di responsibility to get device approval no dey for buyers. Instead, manufacturers, importers and sellers na dem get di responsibility to make sure say devices meet all di required standards bifor dem sell am for di market.
Because of dis, anybody wey discova say di phone wey dem buy no dey valid, or anybodi wey use di verification codes but see say NCC neva approve di phone, get di right to return di phone to di seller and collect back dia money.
