The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is reportedly making moves to disconnect fake and stolen phones from networks in the country. According to a statement, it will be using a Device Management System (DMS) technology to achieve this exercise.
The International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) will play a key part, as every phone is supposed to carry one. If a phone does not have IMEI, it cannot be traced, and call details cannot be obtained. Bad actors, scammers and other criminals use these kinds of smartphones to stay below the radar and avoid detection.
The commission explained: “A considerable number of counterfeit ICT devices have found their way into global markets, including in Nigeria. The proliferation of these devices is raising concerns about national security, performance, quality of service delivery and potential revenue losses for all stakeholders.”
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Notably, as far back as 2009, India has been carrying out this kind of blocking exercise periodically to discourage fraud and crime. With phones without an IMEI blocked, the NCC hopes to have a central point of control over both networks and their connected devices.
However, Nairametrics reveals that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is yet to approve the process. If done well, it could mitigate crime to a large extent, and there is the economic angle as well.
“Counterfeit mobile devices pose security and health risks to the consumer as well as economic risks to the brand that is being counterfeited. In the background of Boko Haram in Nigeria and other terrorist groups using cloned cell phones, many key security concerns relating to counterfeit electronic devices arise,” NCC’s statement further clarified.
If you purchased your smartphone from a verified supplier or from a person already using it, you might have nothing to fear. Also, you can dial *#06# to check your device IMEI.
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