Illustrative image of a phone user. The NCC says Nigerians can now dial *315# to check whether a mobile device meets regulatory standards. Photo: Stock image.
Nigerians can now dial *315# to find out whether the phone in their hand is genuine or counterfeit, following the launch of a new Device Checker service by the Nigerian Communications Commission. The regulator announced the initiative at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday as part of a wider push against fake and non-compliant phones circulating on the country's mobile networks.
The service sits inside an enhanced Type Approval Compliance framework that came into force on October 7, 2026. According to the Commission, the framework is designed to protect consumers, safeguard telecommunications networks and make sure that every device sold and used in Nigeria meets the required technical standards before it connects.
Edoyemi Ogoh, the Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, told reporters that type approval is not merely paperwork for manufacturers. He described it as a vital mechanism for protecting consumers, keeping network performance healthy and preserving confidence in Nigeria's growing digital economy.
The Commission explained that it consulted widely before rolling out the framework. Equipment makers, importers, dealers, telecommunications operators, government agencies and industry associations were all part of the process, which followed the issuance of the Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024.
For ordinary consumers, checking a device is straightforward. Subscribers can dial *315# and follow the prompts, or visit the Commission's official portal. Anyone verifying a phone other than the one they are using may need its 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity number, which can be displayed on most handsets by dialling *#06#.
The NCC advised Nigerians to run the check before paying for a device, particularly when buying second-hand phones from markets or online sellers. It also clarified that people buying from Nigerian sellers do not need to obtain type approval themselves, because that responsibility rests with manufacturers, importers and businesses placing devices on the market.
Devices that were already connected to Nigerian networks before the framework took effect were automatically verified, the Commission said, and their users generally do not need to take any action. The rules cover smartphones, feature phones, cellular tablets, eligible Internet of Things devices, SIM-enabled point-of-sale terminals and cellular laptops.
The regulator warned that devices found to be non-compliant could be denied access to Nigerian mobile networks altogether. It drew a distinction between counterfeit phones, which imitate genuine products without authorisation, and cloned devices, which carry the identity numbers of other legitimate handsets.
An unsuccessful verification does not automatically mean a device is fake, the Commission cautioned. Buyers are advised to raise the result with the seller and resolve any outstanding verification issues before completing a purchase.
On privacy concerns, Ogoh said the system was built for device identification and regulatory checks, not surveillance. The Commission said it does not gain access to users' calls, messages, photographs, contacts or financial information, and that the Device Checker does not track anyone's location or movements.
The framework rests on the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, particularly Section 132(2), along with the Type Approval Regulations and Business Rules of 2024. Officials stressed that enforcement of an existing requirement is being strengthened rather than a brand new obligation introduced, and visitors using foreign SIM cards get a 30-day grace period within a year before verification is required.
Source: Channels Television
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