Lagos, May 30, 2026 — The Association of Mobile Communication Device Technicians of Nigeria (AMCODET) has described the Nigeria Communications Commission’s Device Management System (NCC-DMS) as a significant measure aimed at improving digital security and sanitising the nation’s mobile communications landscape.
Speaking in Lagos on Saturday, AMCODET President, Kehinde Apara, said the initiative would help tackle the growing challenge of stolen, counterfeit and unregistered mobile devices by ensuring such phones are denied access to telecommunications networks.
According to him, the NCC-DMS, introduced under the NCC’s Type Approval Business Rule 2024, was designed to reduce mobile phone theft, eliminate fake devices and reinforce the security of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Apara explained that the system identifies and monitors mobile devices through their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers whenever they connect to local telecom networks.
He noted that major telecommunications operators, including MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, had already been directed to integrate their systems with the NCC-DMS platform.
“Each time a mobile device connects to a Nigerian network, its IMEI is automatically recorded and cross-checked against both local and international databases.
“As a result, many phone users are already being captured by the system through their regular use of SIM cards,” he said.
Apara stated that one of the key benefits of the platform was its ability to disable stolen phones once they had been reported and blacklisted.
“A phone that has been reported stolen and subsequently blacklisted will become unusable across all mobile networks in Nigeria. This will serve as a strong deterrent to phone theft,” he said.
He added that the system would also assist regulators in identifying cloned, substandard and illegally imported devices that could compromise network performance and consumer protection.
The AMCODET president further explained that importers and suppliers were now required to ensure that only type-approved devices entered the Nigerian market.
He warned that phones not recognised within the NCC-DMS framework could eventually be subjected to network restrictions or blacklisting.
Apara noted that while the NCC had expressed plans to introduce a registration process for individual devices, a public self-service registration platform had yet to be launched.
“At the moment, device registration is taking place largely through telecom operators and approved device suppliers,” he said.
He encouraged consumers to purchase only NCC-certified devices to avoid possible disruptions in network access in the future.
Apara also disclosed that AMCODET had continued to collaborate with the NCC by offering technical support and expertise in device repair and maintenance to aid the successful implementation of the initiative.
He added that the platform would provide added protection for mobile device technicians by helping to reduce cases involving stolen, counterfeit and unlawfully imported phones within the industry.