NCC Urges Nigerians to Dial *315# Before Buying New Phones
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to dial *315# to verify mobile phones before purchasing them. The commission said the check would help buyers avoid counterfeit devices and ensure their phones meet Nigeria’s telecommunications standards.
Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, explained that the verification system would protect consumers and improve network service quality across the country.
He spoke during an interview on News Night on Arise News on Friday. According to him, the commission’s new Device Checker system took effect on October 7, 2026.
Why NCC Introduced the Device Checker
Ogoh identified three major reasons for introducing the verification system: regulatory compliance, consumer protection and improved network performance.
First, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 requires telecommunications equipment to undergo type approval. This process ensures that devices meet the country’s technical standards and can operate properly on local networks.
Second, the system aims to protect buyers from counterfeit phones. Ogoh advised Nigerians to confirm a device’s verification status before making payment.
He explained that consumers should not spend their hard-earned money on phones that are fake or do not meet the required standards.
Third, the NCC wants to address network problems linked to substandard mobile devices. According to Ogoh, the commission’s assessments showed that some complaints about poor network service were caused by the devices consumers used.
He added that unapproved phones could affect other subscribers within the same environment. Therefore, checking a phone before purchase could help protect both the buyer and other network users.
Failed Verification Does Not Always Mean a Phone Is Fake
The NCC director clarified that a failed Device Checker result does not automatically mean a phone is counterfeit.
He explained that the verification process involves two stages. The first is type approval, which requires laboratory tests to determine whether a phone model meets Nigerian standards and works properly on telecommunications networks.
Once a model receives approval, individual units must still undergo verification.
For example, a manufacturer may obtain approval for a particular phone model before importing thousands of units into Nigeria. Each device must then be properly registered and verified.
Ogoh said importers, manufacturers and other parties responsible for bringing phones into the country must register their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers on the NCC’s system.
He stressed that buyers are not responsible for completing this registration process. Instead, sellers and other relevant parties must ensure that the required procedures have been completed before selling the devices.
What About Phones Bought Before October 7?
The NCC said consumers who were already using phones on Nigerian networks before October 7, 2026, do not need to take any action under the new system.
According to Ogoh, all devices active on local networks by midnight on October 6 had already been onboarded and verified.
He put the number of these devices at approximately 231 million.
The enhanced verification requirement applies to devices arriving in Nigeria from October 7. Such phones must meet the type-approval requirements and be registered on the Device Checker system.
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Ogoh also said phones identified as cloned before the new system took effect would not be blocked under the new process.
However, he did not explain what measures the commission would take against newly imported devices confirmed to be cloned.
As a result, the NCC continues to advise prospective buyers to check a phone’s verification status before paying for it.
NCC Addresses Privacy Concerns
The commission has also addressed concerns about the privacy of users who access the Device Checker service.
Ogoh explained that the system uses a phone’s IMEI to determine its verification status. He said the process does not give the NCC access to users’ private communications, contacts or stored messages.
According to him, the service is designed specifically to establish whether a mobile device is genuine and properly verified.
The commission has therefore encouraged Nigerians to make the check part of their phone-buying process.
To verify a phone, consumers can dial *315# and follow the instructions provided. Those with complaints about telecommunications services can also contact the NCC through its consumer complaint line on 622.
The commission further warned buyers to use only the official *315# code and its official website for device verification. It also advised Nigerians not to share one-time passwords or verification codes with sellers or unknown callers.
By checking a phone before purchase, consumers can reduce the risk of buying counterfeit devices and help ensure that their handsets meet the standards required for reliable network performance.
