Things to know about checking your phone’s NCC approval status

Nigerians can now check their phone's approval status with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) by dialing *315# or visiting the commission's Device Checker portal. This verification system was introduced on October 7, 2026, to ensure devices sold and used in Nigeria meet technical standards, as per the NCC's Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh.

The NCC has emphasized this initiative as a crucial consumer protection measure, ensuring network performance and preserving confidence in Nigeria's digital economy.

Consumers can verify their phone's approval status by dialing *315# and following the prompts, visiting the NCC website (www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceChecker), or retrieving the IMEI of another phone using *#06# and checking the result. Phones already connected to Nigerian mobile networks before the new system took effect need not be verified.

Second-hand phones should also be checked by asking sellers for the IMEI and verifying it before purchase. The system covers SIM-enabled devices designed to connect to Nigerian mobile networks, including smartphones, feature phones, cellular tablets, SIM-enabled laptops, point-of-sale terminals, and eligible Internet of Things devices.

Foreign visitors with international roaming are not affected, but phones brought from abroad for Nigerian use can be verified for up to 30 days within a year. If verification fails, consumers should confirm the correct IMEI, seek clarification from the seller, or contact their network provider or the NCC. The NCC has assured that the system does not access users' private messages or other personal files, debunking surveillance concerns.