The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that Nigerians will as from July, 2021 be required to submit the the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones.
The IMEI numbers is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.
The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.
Identity Register as part of a Device Management System established by the Government.
The policy statement reads: “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.”
With the aim 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, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.
repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.
“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”
According to an expert that helps the Nigerian Police track stolen phones who spoke with PUNCH, he said the IMEI of a phone allows the Police to track the phone.
“It allows us to track the phone’s information, people the phone calls each day and the house address of the people that call on the phone.
The Expert added: “I can’t disclose how the IMEI of a phone works. It is sensitive information. Leaking the secret helps the people stealing the phone bypass the information.
