The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is tightening enforcement of its device approval requirements, prompting concerns among mobile phone importers and retailers about additional costs.

In a statement reported by The Guardian on October 21, the commission reminded manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers that mobile devices must satisfy regulatory requirements before entering the Nigerian market.

The policy covers smartphones, feature phones, tablets and other devices that connect to mobile networks using SIM cards.

Although the NCC describes the approval requirement as an existing legal obligation, it has introduced additional technology-based checks to verify individual devices.

Traders say the cost of implementing these checks could be passed on to customers.

What the NCC is changing

Under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Type Approval Regulations 2024, communication devices must receive regulatory approval before they can be imported or sold in Nigeria.

Type Approval confirms that a particular device model meets the country’s technical and safety requirements.

The NCC is now strengthening enforcement through a system known as Device Checker.

Unlike Type Approval, which concerns a device model, the new verification process checks individual devices using their IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), a unique identification number assigned to mobile devices.

The system is intended to identify devices that have not met the necessary requirements, including those with suspicious or duplicated identification numbers.

According to the NCC’s official guidance, the strengthened verification arrangements took effect on October 7, 2026.

Importers and suppliers must ensure that new devices are verified before they are distributed or sold.

Businesses must also review existing stock to identify devices that require further compliance checks.

The NCC warns that devices confirmed to be non-compliant could face restrictions on Nigerian mobile networks.

Why phone traders are opposing the charges

The Association of Mobile Phones and Allied Products Traders of Nigeria (AMPAT) has called for a 90-day suspension of the disputed verification charges.

The association argues that the additional expenses could raise phone prices, reduce sales and place pressure on small businesses.

According to The Guardian, traders reported charges ranging from approximately ₦670 for some smaller phones to nearly ₦4,000 for larger devices.

Those amounts are claims made by the traders; they have not been independently established as an official NCC fee schedule.

AMPAT representatives also requested clarification about the legal basis for the charges, how the money would be collected and which organisations would receive it.

The association says it supports efforts to prevent counterfeit and stolen phones from entering the market.

Its disagreement concerns the financial burden and implementation of the verification process rather than the principle of device registration.

The NCC maintains that stronger checks can help protect consumers from buying devices that do not meet required technical standards.

Will existing phones be affected?

The NCC says phones already connected to Nigerian mobile networks before October 7 were automatically verified under the new system.

This means most people already using their phones do not need to register them again.

However, buyers purchasing new or second-hand phones are advised to confirm that the devices meet the requirements before paying.

The commission has introduced a verification service accessible by dialling *315# or visiting its official Device Checker portal.

A buyer may be asked to provide the phone’s IMEI number, which can usually be found in the device settings or by dialling *#06#.

The NCC also advises consumers not to assume that an unsuccessful verification automatically means a device is counterfeit. Some cases may require clarification or correction by the seller.

What this means for Nigerians

If traders pass additional compliance costs to consumers, mobile phones could become more expensive, particularly for buyers seeking affordable devices.

However, no nationwide price increase has yet been established as a direct consequence of the verification rules.

The policy could also benefit consumers by making it easier to identify devices that have not satisfied Nigeria’s regulatory requirements.

For importers and retailers, compliance may involve additional documentation, inventory checks and verification procedures.

For customers, the immediate practical change is the ability to check a device’s approval status before purchase.

The NCC wants a safer mobile phone market, while traders want clarity about the cost. Whether the policy improves consumer protection without making affordable phones harder to buy will depend on how it is implemented.