The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the licensing and regularisation of mobile device dealers across Kano State as part of the nationwide implementation of its newly launched Device Checker platform. ​Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the NCC Zonal Office in Kano, the NCC Kano Zonal Controller, Mr. Maigana Gidado, announced that the Commission has streamlined its licensing procedures to assist vendor compliance.
Under the framework, mobile phone vendors, distributors, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) operating within the state are required to obtain official regulatory authorisation and register their product inventories to curb the circulation of counterfeit, cloned, and unapproved devices.
​Addressing rising public concerns regarding consumer data privacy, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, assured Nigerians through official statements that the platform is purely a regulatory compliance tool rather than an instrument for state surveillance.
The Commission clarified that the Device Checker architecture operates strictly by evaluating hardware identifiers, primarily the 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. The system verifies technical compliance against the NCC’s Type Approval database and does not monitor private communications, track user locations, or access files, photos, or personal content stored on devices.
​The platform offers consumer verification through a short code, dialing *315#, visiting the dedicated portal at www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker, or calling the toll-free customer care line at 315. For authorized industry operators and vendors, the regulator deployed the specialized NG-IMEI Scanner mobile application to streamline inventory logging directly into the central database. ​
Under the policy guidelines established by the regulator, all SIM-enabled devices, including smartphones, cellular tablets, feature phones, point-of-sale (PoS) terminals, and cellular IoT units connected to Nigerian networks prior to October 7, 2026, have been automatically grandfathered and verified without requiring user action.
However, consumers purchasing new or secondary market devices are instructed to perform an IMEI check via *315# prior to transaction to ensure the device is genuine and fully type-approved for operation within the country.
