NCC launches IMEI-based device verification in Nigeria

Nigeria's telecom regulator NCC launched Device Checker on October 7, 2026, letting buyers verify via *315# or an online portal whether a phone is Type Approved for local networks. With 99% of smartphones imported and about 63 million devices sold annually, the NCC aims to trace imports and sanction non-compliant sellers through its Device Management System.

• IMEI checks are available via *315# or the NCC online portal
• 99% of smartphones in Nigeria are imported; sales reach about 63 million a year
• Monthly device imports are valued at ₦50 billion ($30 million)
• 231 million devices connected before October 7 were auto-registered in the database