NCC Launches *315# Device Checker to Curb Fake Phones in Nigeria

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a device verification service that allows consumers to check the compliance status of mobile phones and other communications equipment by dialling *315#, as part of efforts to curb counterfeit devices and protect Nigeria’s telecommunications networks.

The commission said the Device Checker formed part of an enhanced Type Approval Compliance framework that took effect on October 7, 2026, aimed at ensuring that devices sold and used in Nigeria meet prescribed technical standards.

Speaking at a news conference on the regulator’s Technical Standards and Network Integrity initiatives in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Mr Edoyemi Ogoh, said the framework would strengthen monitoring and enforcement of existing regulatory requirements.

“Type Approval is not merely a regulatory requirement. It is a vital mechanism for protecting consumers, safeguarding network performance and preserving confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy,” he said.

Mr Ogoh said the agency had engaged original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecommunications operators, government agencies and industry associations following the issuance of the Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024.

He added that the NCC had also worked with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders to verify devices already in stock and ensure that newly imported equipment underwent the required checks.

Consumers can check a device by dialling *315# and following the prompts or visiting the Commission’s official portal at www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker.

Those checking a phone other than the one they currently use may need its 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, obtainable by dialling *#06#.

The NCC advised Nigerians to verify devices before making payment, particularly when purchasing second-hand phones, warning that non-compliant devices could be denied access to Nigerian mobile networks.

The commission, however, clarified that consumers buying devices from Nigerian sellers are not required to obtain Type Approval themselves, as compliance responsibilities rest primarily with manufacturers, importers, suppliers and businesses placing devices on the market.

It added that devices already connected to Nigerian mobile networks before the framework took effect had been automatically verified and generally require no action from their users.

The framework covers smartphones, feature phones, cellular tablets, eligible Internet of Things devices, SIM-enabled point-of-sale terminals, cellular laptops and other equipment designed to connect to Nigerian mobile networks.

The NCC distinguished counterfeit devices, which imitate genuine products without manufacturers’ authorisation, from cloned devices that use IMEI numbers assigned to other legitimate phones. It cautioned that an unsuccessful verification result did not automatically mean a device was counterfeit, urging consumers to seek clarification and resolve outstanding verification issues before completing purchases.

Addressing privacy concerns, Mr Ogoh said the system was designed for device identification and regulatory verification rather than surveillance.

He explained that the framework does not give the Commission access to users’ calls, messages, photographs, contacts, financial information or other personal files, nor does the Device Checker track their physical locations or movements.

The organisation also warned consumers against fraudsters seeking to exploit the verification process, urging them to use only the official USSD channel and NCC website and never disclose one-time verification codes to sellers, callers or other individuals.

The framework is backed by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, particularly Section 132(2), the Nigerian Communications (Type Approval) Regulations 2024 and the Type Approval Business Rules 2024.

Mr Ogoh stressed that the Commission was strengthening enforcement of an existing requirement rather than introducing a new regulatory obligation.

Also speaking, the Director of Public Affairs at the Commission, Mrs Nneka Okoha, called on media organisations to intensify public awareness of the service, noting that accurate information was essential to helping consumers understand the verification process and their responsibilities when purchasing communications equipment.

The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to consumer protection, stronger technical standards and a safer telecommunications environment in support of Nigeria’s digital economy.