The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clarified reports that mobile subscribers will be required to submit the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July, 2021.
The clarification is coming following serious outrage on social media by Nigerians after the statement on the submission was first issued.
The commission said it would automatically capture the phone identifying numbers without reference to subscribers rather than asking them to submit it
In a statement on Friday, Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s director of public affairs, said at no time did the commission issued 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,” the statement read
“It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Device Management System (DMS). The DMS will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will 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.”
Adinde advised the general public to disregard the said publications, which have created the erroneous impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks.
