The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has taken a significant step toward improving mobile device regulation by introducing the Device Management System (NCC-DMS).
This centralized Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) is designed to manage and regulate mobile devices accessing communication networks across the country. The initiative comes as part of the NCC’s ongoing efforts to enhance security, curb device theft, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
As part of its recently released ‘Type Approval Business Rule 2024,’ the NCC has mandated that all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria connect to the NCC-DMS. This directive is expected to foster a more uniform and effective approach to managing mobile devices within Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.
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The new system will acquire and track the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of all devices latching onto any of Nigeria’s communication networks. Through this centralized tracking mechanism, the system will help monitor and regulate the use of mobile devices across all networks.
The NCC explained that the primary objective of the DMS is to ensure stricter control over mobile devices, enhance overall security, and promote adherence to established regulatory standards. By creating a centralized database for tracking devices, the Commission seeks to address long-standing issues such as phone theft, the use of unapproved devices, and fraudulent activities involving mobile gadgets.
Key Features of The NCC-DMS
One of the critical features of the NCC-DMS is its capacity to synchronize with international IMEI databases, allowing for real-time tracking and identification of all devices operating within Nigeria. The system will not only maintain a registry of all communication devices in the country but will also require all MNOs to synchronize their Equipment Identity Registers (EIRs) with the NCC-DMS. This will ensure that devices accessing any Nigerian network are compliant with the Commission’s regulations.
In a move that aims to create accountability, the system will also enforce stricter registration procedures for both individual users and device suppliers. Suppliers, in particular, will bear the responsibility of registering type-approved devices, and all device registrations will incur a fee. These fees are distinct from the type approval fees previously in place, ensuring that every device in use is tracked through a formal registration process.
Additionally, individuals will be able to register their mobile devices, although the number of devices permitted for registration will be limited and determined by the NCC. The goal is to limit the number of unregistered or non-compliant devices that could pose security risks or complicate tracking efforts.
To Enhance National Security
The introduction of the NCC-DMS is not only about regulating devices but also about improving national security. According to the Commission, the system will help tackle several issues tied to the criminal use of mobile devices.
In a statement, the NCC explained, “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 the blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of the Device Management System.”
By ensuring that blacklisted IMEIs—those tied to stolen or illegal devices—are shared across all networks, the DMS will help render stolen devices unusable, reducing their market value and discouraging theft. This is expected to be a significant deterrent to phone snatching and other related crimes, as criminals will find it increasingly difficult to repurpose or sell stolen devices.
The NCC first unveiled its plans for the DMS in 2021.
Activists Fear For Government’s Repression
However, the move has attracted scrutiny from many quarters of the country. What makes this development even more polarizing is the belief, especially among political analysts and civil rights groups, that it is part of the ruling APC-led government’s attempt at surveillance. Detractors claim the new NCC-DMS system is not just about safeguarding communications infrastructure but could serve as a sophisticated tool for monitoring critics, journalists, and opposition voices.
Some Nigerian lawyers and civil rights advocates have denounced the NCC’s expanded role in device tracking, questioning the regulatory body’s mandate in this space. They note that it is not the job of the NCC to deal with stolen phones, that is a matter for law enforcement, not a regulatory agency.
Additionally, there is unease about how much power this central registry places in the hands of the government. Fears of abuse are mounting among privacy watchdogs because the mechanism also potentially allows for greater governmental oversight of personal communications.
For instance, investigative journalists and media organizations have raised alarms over the arbitrary arrests of journalists in the country. There is growing anxiety that the NCC-DMS, alongside the NIN-SIM integration, provides the administration with unchecked access to sensitive data, facilitating targeted espionage.
However, the move is expected to be challenged in court before it goes into effect.