Again, NCC demands Nigerians’ phone details

As Nigerians submit their phone numbers and link them to their national identity numbers, the Nigerian Communications Commission has said phone owners will again have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July.

The IMEI number is a 15-digit number unique to each phone, and it is used to track a device or its owner.

The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

“Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months,” the policy stated in part.

It further states the aims are to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices.

“The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.