Nigerians react to New Directive of Submission of Phones’ IMEI to NCC from July
The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July.
The regulatory body stated this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.
This is part of NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) backed by President Muhammadu Buhari, according to Punch.
A portion of the policy said, “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.”
The NCC said, “With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.
“The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.
“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”
The IMEI number is the mobile phone’s fingerprint. It is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.
According to an expert that helps the Nigerian Police track stolen phones, who pleaded anonymity, “The IMEI of a phone allows us to track the phone.
“It allows us to track the phone’s information, people the phone calls each day and the house address of the people that call on the phone.”
The expert added, “I can’t disclose how the IMEI of a phone works. It is sensitive information. Leaking the secret helps the people stealing the phone bypass the information.
“Some people already try to change the IMEI of stolen phones, but we know what to do to get the original one.”
With this move, the NCC will have the IMEI numbers, NIN, and mobile numbers of every Nigerian.
Nigerians on social media are reacting to the new directive in different ways.
See some reactions below:
From NIN to IMEI, what else will this government tell us to do??
— Elvis Tunde (@Tunnykvng) May 21, 2021
NIN + IMEI registration is a way for the Govt to track down and kill you when you disagree with them.
Stop registering for it.
Even if you did NIN, don't ever do IMEI registration.
— Ikenna Nzimora (@ronaldnzimora) May 21, 2021
Isa Pantami have access to our NIN, now NCC is mandating Nigerians to submit IMEI of phones from July 2021.
I hope FG won't be mad if people don't comply with this IMEI directives, because when people asked for the resignation of Isa Pantami for his extremism, FG didn't comply.
— Uncle AJ (@UNCLE_AJALA) May 21, 2021
Me & my guys strolling to our cells,
No IMEI on ground make I go chill. pic.twitter.com/NCKxzAcUGa— Astute_Techie (@Swissekpo1) May 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/CaptDanky/status/1395684625046020102?s=20
I WILL NOT REGISTER MY IMEI NUMBER WITH A TERRORIST SYMPATHISER AND AN ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST. I IMPLORE YOU NOT TO DO SO TOO. IT IS A GROSS INFRACTION ON MY HUMAN RIGHTS AND AN INVASION OF MY PRIVACY. SAY NO TO THIS GOVERNMENT'S AUTHORITARIANISM!!!
— Olaudah Equiano® (@RealOlaudah) May 21, 2021
Personally I’ve fired Isa Pantami in my head, he and the ministry of communication does not exist to me until the terrorist sympathizer leaves that office officially.
Any directive given by that ministry for anything; IMEI or NIN, is invalid to me.— Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) May 21, 2021