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If you recently received a message warning that your phone will soon be disconnected from your service provider, don’t panic; it is most likely from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC has begun registering SIM-enabled devices in Nigeria to ensure all devices entering the country meet Nigeria’s type-approval requirements.
Section 132 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 explains “Type Approval” as the NCC’s official clearance certifying that a specific model of electronic or telecommunications equipment meets Nigeria’s standards before it can be legally imported, sold, or connected to any public network.
The Punch, Business Day and the Guardian Newspapers reported this development. According to the Guardian, the announcement has caused panic after people received the warning message.
The commission, however, said this will help them eliminate the influx of counterfeit and cloned phones, restrict the market for stolen devices and boost national security.
To achieve this goal, the NCC decided to build a central registry called the Device Management System (DMS).
For phones already in active use, the system automatically captures and logs your IMEI as soon as your device connects to your MTN, Airtel, Glo, or other networks. IMEI is like a personalised identity number, and each phone carries a unique one.
However, getting the warning does not mean that your phone is fake. It just means your phone entered Nigeria without being registered.
How can you check your phone’s status?
Whether you got the warning message or not, it is important to do the check to be on the safe side. To check, simply dial *315# on your phone, and you will get a prompt that says: “Welcome to Device Checker. Send:
- Check this device.
- Check another device.”
Follow the prompt by entering 1 to receive a response. If you receive the response below, it means your phone is verified.
“This device is NCC Type Approved and verified for use on Nigeria mobile networks.”
If you personally imported your phone, it will most likely flag an “unapproved” status when you dial the verification code.
If the prompt says your phone is not verified, it will begin a 30-day countdown.
During this period, contact your seller if you recently purchased the device from a local retail outlet, or call the NCC’s toll-free line at 622 for direct help.
Also, ensure to keep your phone receipt and a screenshot of the warning code.