21st May, 2021
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has debunked reports that it asked phone users to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July, 2021.
The commission, in a statement issued on Friday by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs said its attention had been drawn to several media publications to the effect that the Commission would require Nigerians to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July, 2021.
“At no time did the Commission issue a Statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so.
“The reports in question have emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website,” it said.
According to the commission, it is pertinent to state that the Commission was in the process of deploying a Devise Management System (DMS).
It said the DMS would essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and would identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks.
“The system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.
“The general public is advised to disregard the said publications, which have created the erroneous impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks,” the commission added.