The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced the Device Management System (NCC-DMS) to oversee and register all mobile phones on the country’s communication networks.
This initiative, part of the “Type Approval Business Rule 2024,” mandates mobile network operators to integrate their systems with the DMS platform. The primary objectives of the DMS are to enhance device control, improve security, and ensure regulatory compliance by acting as a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).
It will collect and synchronize International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers with international databases, enabling the NCC to monitor devices and blacklist unregistered ones, rendering them unusable in Nigeria.
The NCC-DMS also aims to combat the use of unapproved devices while reducing phone theft and fraud by tracking stolen device IMEIs and blacklisting them. This step is expected to curb phone-related crimes, as blacklisted devices will lose their value, decreasing theft incentives.
Additionally, mobile network operators are required to sync their Equipment Identity Registers (EIRs) with the DMS to establish a uniform standard for device registration across the country. Device suppliers and individuals are also responsible for registering devices through the DMS, with the number of devices allowed per individual being limited by the NCC.
A fee will be charged for each device registered on the system, applicable to both consumers and suppliers, separate from the existing type-approval fees. The NCC first proposed the DMS in 2021 as a measure to enhance national security, promote transparency in the telecommunications sector, and boost government revenue from device registration.
This initiative is expected to significantly reduce mobile-related crimes, protect consumers, and strengthen device regulation in Nigeria.
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