Not true! We will not ask subscribers for IMEI number, we have gadget to do that, says NCC

In a terse statement titled, ‘Subscribers not required to Submit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number’ the Nigerian Zommunications Commission (NCC) has flatly denied media reports (Everyday.ng not included) that it would soon demand IMEI number from subscribers.

The statement by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, of NCC reads in full:

The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to several media publications to the effect that the Commission will require Nigerians to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July, 2021.

At no time did the Commission issue a Statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so.

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.

It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Devise 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 general public is advised to disregard the said publications, which have created the erroneous impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks.