NCC Introduces Phone Verification System for Nigerians

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) launched a new phone verification system on October 7, 2026, to ensure that devices connected to Nigerian mobile networks meet technical standards. Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, stated that the initiative aims to protect consumers and improve network performance.

Nigerians can verify their phones by dialing *315# or visiting the NCC’s Device Checker website. Devices connected to networks before October 7, 2026, were automatically verified, with approximately 231 million devices already registered.

The verification system applies to devices with SIM cards, including smartphones, basic mobile phones, tablets, SIM-enabled laptops, POS terminals, and eligible IoT devices. Non-compliant devices may be blocked from accessing networks.

The NCC clarified that the system does not monitor users' private communications or track their locations. Foreign visitors using international roaming are not affected, but phones brought into Nigeria for personal use may have different verification processes.