Press Statement:
Subscribers not required to Submit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number

WRITTEN BY MEDIA TEAM PUBLISHED: 21 MAY 2021

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 Device 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.

Signed:
Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde
Director, Public Affairs
May 21, 2021

jlinkd78:
They couldn't stand the backlash. However we still need explanations how they intend to capture d numbers automatically without the consent of d phone device owner

Joel3:
We knew it's part of the POLICY SOMERSAULT.

jlinkd78:
They couldn't stand the backlash. However we still need explanations how they intend to capture d numbers automatically without the consent of d phone device owner

MASTAkiLLAh:
such equipments have been on ground at least since GEJ's era. It's what police use in tracking kidnappers for example. The DSS also has them and that's why I try as much as possible to only buy new phones instead of second hand no matter how tempting the offer is, I personally know someone languishing in jail now with a robbery case hanging on his neck for being in possession of a stolen phone. The idea is good, the personnel behind it is what people are afraid of

CilicMarin:
Anything that would lead to the decimation of all terrorists is welcomed by me.

God bless Baba Buhari

Penguin2:
Am I the only one that read that “the system will capture IMEI automatically”?

So they are good to capture our IMEI anyway, just that they won’t ask us to submit it.

Chai!

We warned you people about these terrorists