The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is strengthening enforcement of its device approval rules, with smartphone users reporting text messages warning that their phones could lose access to Nigerian mobile networks after 30 cumulative days if they remain unverified.

The alerts are linked to the Commission’s planned Device Management System (DMS), a technology-driven framework designed to identify SIM-enabled devices and check whether they comply with Nigeria’s telecommunications standards.

In an official statement, the NCC confirmed that it had begun the first phase of implementing the automated compliance framework. The Commission said the exercise would involve working with the Nigeria Customs Service, device manufacturers, importers and relevant market associations to improve the registration and authentication of devices.

The announcement follows reports from consumers using different smartphone brands, including Apple, Infinix, Tecno, Oukitel and Google Pixel, who said they had received warnings about their devices. Some users reportedly purchased their phones through Nigerian retailers, while others acquired them abroad before bringing them into the country.

The reports have raised concerns about how devices that have been in use for months or years could suddenly be identified as unverified. They have also prompted questions about the responsibilities of importers and retailers when phones sold to consumers do not meet regulatory requirements.

The NCC has explained that its type-approval framework is intended to ensure that communications equipment meets applicable technical standards before it is sold or used in Nigeria. Under Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, relevant equipment manufacturers, suppliers and licensed service providers are required to obtain the Commission’s approval.

Through the DMS, the regulator plans to establish a central register of device identification numbers, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. This would allow the Commission to improve oversight of devices connecting to Nigerian networks and identify equipment that has not met the applicable requirements.

The NCC says the system is intended to improve compliance, support network performance and make it easier to identify non-compliant or illegally imported devices. It will also help operators block devices reported stolen from use across Nigerian mobile networks.

For consumers, however, the immediate concern is whether a phone already in use could be disconnected and what steps would be available to resolve a warning. BusinessDay reported that affected users were receiving alerts referring to a 30-day cumulative period, although the NCC’s public statement does not itself set out the specific warning process or provide a complete procedure for affected owners.

The Commission has indicated that the first phase of the rollout includes work to onboard existing devices held in stock and ensure that future imports are properly registered and authenticated. This suggests that implementation is being developed in stages rather than through a single process affecting every device at once.

Consumers who receive an alert should seek clarification through official NCC channels and check the Commission’s published list of approved handsets. They should also contact the retailer or importer from whom they obtained the phone to establish its compliance status.

The issue is particularly important for people who buy smartphones through online marketplaces, independent shops or informal import channels. A device’s availability for sale does not, by itself, establish that its specific model has completed the required approval process.

The NCC has also sought to address concerns about privacy. According to its official statement, the DMS is designed to maintain device-identification information, including IMEI numbers. The Commission said the platform does not give it access to the contents of users’ phones or enable it to monitor their personal communications.

The rollout could have wider implications for Nigeria’s smartphone market. Importers and retailers may face greater pressure to demonstrate that the devices they supply meet regulatory requirements, while consumers may increasingly seek confirmation of a phone’s approval status before making a purchase.

The success of the policy will depend partly on how clearly the NCC communicates its procedures, how easily consumers can verify their devices and how fairly existing owners are treated when a phone is flagged after purchase.

For now, the Commission’s confirmed position is that it has begun implementing the automated type-approval compliance framework. Details of the specific 30-day alerts and the registration options available to affected users should be confirmed through further official guidance.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia