FG Orders Nigerians To Submit Phone Tracking ID Numbers To NCC

FG has ordered Nigerians to submit phone tracking ID numbers to NCC.

Newsone reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said all mobile subscribers in Nigeria, must submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones from July, 2021.

This online news platform understands the IMEI is an identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone.

The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset. This can best be described as phone tracking ID numbers.

Newsone reports that the phone tracking ID numbers are independent of phone numbers and are usually stamped beneath the battery on the back of the handset.

Giving reason for the decision ordering Nigerians to submit their phone tracking ID numbers, the NCC said this directive is to be implemented within three months, as contained in the revised national identity policy for SIM card registration which was released on May 11, 2021.

The decision to submit phone tracking ID numbers according to the NCC, is expected to “curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance national security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile
phones and other smart devices.”

Newsone reports that the NCC plans to achieve this through the deployment of a device management system (DMS) which will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ IMEI and owners of such devices.

Statement on the submission of phone tracking ID numbers (IMEI) to NCC

The statement asking Nigerians to submit their phone tracking ID numbers reads as thus; “His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the device management system should be implemented within three months,” the policy read.

“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers. The purpose is to ensure that such devices do not work even if different SIM cards are inserted in those devices.

“DMS will also provide access to all operators to cross-check the IMEIs and their status before allowing a device to become active on their network.

“Furthermore, registered mobile phone technicians will also be provided with an interface to check IMEIs and ensure it has not been reported as stolen or illegal before they render their technical services.”