The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has denied viral reports asking Nigerians to submit their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) to it from July. The NCC said this in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde.
Adinde said NCC never issued any statement “Regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so” adding that “The reports in question have emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website.”
The NCC Director of Public Affairs explained that the IMEI of Nigerians will automatically be obtained without any need to submit it.
“It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Device Management System (DMS). The DMS will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks. The system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.”
The statement concluded urging Nigerians to “Disregard the said publications, which have created the erroneous impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks.”
