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Nigerians have raised concerns over the safety of their mobile phones following text messages warning that some devices could be disconnected from local telecommunications networks after 30 cumulative days, despite questions over how affected handsets are being identified.
The alerts, reportedly received by users of several smartphone brands, have triggered anxiety among consumers who bought their devices abroad, through online marketplaces and from local retailers, with some questioning why phones already in use are being flagged as unverified.
The development comes as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) strengthens enforcement of its type-approval requirements through a Device Management System (DMS) designed to identify and restrict devices that do not meet applicable regulatory standards.
However, the commission’s published guidance raises questions about the scope of the warnings and the circumstances under which an existing phone could face a network restriction.
In its Device Checker and Type Approval frequently asked questions, updated on October 12, the NCC said phones already connected to Nigerian networks before the system took effect on October 7 had been automatically verified and required no action from their owners.
It also stated that phones already in use, devices bought within Nigeria, whether new or second-hand, and phones transferred between family members or friends did not ordinarily require additional action.
The guidance, however, advised users whose devices could not be verified or were subject to compliance restrictions to follow the instructions provided and contact their sellers or service providers for assistance.
The clarification comes amid reports of warning messages sent to owners of Apple iPhones, Google Pixel, Tecno, Infinix and Oukitel devices, including some users who claimed to have purchased their phones locally.
The messages reportedly warn recipients that their devices have not been verified for use on Nigerian networks and could be disconnected after 30 cumulative days.
The reports have raised questions about whether the affected devices were imported recently, had previously operated on Nigerian networks, or were flagged because of discrepancies in their identification or verification records.
The distinction is important because the NCC’s published guidance provides different procedures for devices already in use, phones purchased locally and devices brought into the country for personal use.
According to the commission, a phone that has never been used on a Nigerian network and is brought into the country for use with a Nigerian SIM can operate for up to 30 cumulative days within a one-year period without verification.
Personal imports are subject to a separate verification process, for which the NCC advises affected owners to contact its support service.
The commission has also directed consumers to its Device Checker service, which can be accessed by dialling *315# or through its official website, to check whether a device is type-approved and verified for use on Nigerian mobile networks.
The system uses device identification information, including the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), to determine compliance.
An IMEI is a unique identification number assigned to a mobile device that connects to a cellular network.
The NCC said its Device Checker does not give the commission access to users’ personal content, including messages, photographs and other files stored on their phones, and does not track their physical locations or movements.
The commission’s position is that the exercise is intended to strengthen compliance with existing technical standards, improve oversight of devices operating on Nigerian networks and help address issues involving counterfeit, cloned and non-compliant equipment.
The regulatory framework is backed by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Nigerian Communications (Type Approval) Regulations 2024.
Under the framework, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and other relevant businesses have obligations to ensure that applicable communications equipment meets approval requirements before it is sold or used in Nigeria.
The NCC has also stated that consumers buying devices locally are not ordinarily expected to obtain type approval themselves.
This places greater attention on the responsibilities of importers, distributors and retailers, particularly where buyers discover that phones purchased through established outlets cannot pass the regulator’s verification checks.
For consumers, the immediate concern is how to resolve such cases without losing access to mobile services or incurring additional costs to replace devices they believed were compliant.
The commission advises consumers who encounter verification problems to contact their sellers or mobile service providers, while those importing phones for personal use are expected to follow the applicable verification procedure.
It also warns users against fraudulent messages and websites claiming to offer device verification, advising them to use only its official channels.
The emergence of the alerts has nevertheless highlighted the need for clear communication about the reasons a device may be flagged, the process for correcting verification errors and the protection available to consumers who bought their phones in good faith.
A transparent resolution process would be particularly important for people who purchased devices locally and have limited information about their importation history or regulatory status.
The NCC’s Device Management System is expected to strengthen accountability across the telecommunications device market. Its effectiveness, however, will also depend on whether consumers can reliably check their phones, understand the meaning of warning messages and obtain timely assistance when their devices are incorrectly flagged.
As the verification regime takes effect, clarity on the circumstances behind the reported alerts will be crucial to reassuring consumers that legitimate devices will not be unnecessarily disconnected from Nigerian mobile networks.
