The Nigerian Communications Commission says Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones starting in July, 2021.
This is a Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card registration which reportedly has the backing of President Buhari.
An IMEI is a unique 15-digit number attached to every mobile phone. With an IMEI, mobile phones can be tracked and located irrespective of the mobile network provider registered on it.
The NCC in a statement said “… 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, can be done 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 records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.