NCC Begins Sending 30 Day Disconnection Warnings to Unregistered Phone Users in Nigeria

NCC begins issuing 30 day warning alerts to disconnect unregistered and unapproved mobile phones from Nigerian mobile networks.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially begun issuing 30 day warning text messages to phone owners carrying unregistered and unapproved mobile devices across Nigeria.

The nationwide regulatory notification campaign began on October 11, 2026, warning phone users that unverified devices will soon be blocked from connecting to local mobile networks.

Under this new security enforcement action, the government telecom regulator is using its Central Equipment Identity Register and Device Management System to scan every phone joining Nigerian networks.

The automated system reads the unique 15 digit identity number, known as the IMEI number, stored inside every mobile phone.

Phones that were brought into the country without passing proper safety checks, fake imitation devices, smuggled phones, or stolen handsets reported to security agencies will receive automated warning alerts.

Phone owners who get these text messages have a thirty-day grace period to verify their devices before mobile networks like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile cut off their SIM cards, internet data, and voice calls completely.

Stopping unregistered and fake mobile phones from working in Nigeria is very important for everyday citizens, local market buyers, and phone sellers across the country.

Many citizens unknowingly buy cheap fake smartphones, bad secondhand phones, or illegally smuggled devices from roadside sellers without knowing if the phone is safe or original.

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Bad or counterfeit phones can emit harmful electronic waves, catch fire while charging, break down quickly, or be used by criminals and phone thieves to escape police detection.

By blocking unapproved devices from mobile networks, the government protects honest buyers from losing their hard-earned money to fake sellers while stopping phone theft across Nigerian communities.

Reassuring smartphone users that the disconnection exercise targets unapproved devices rather than specific phone brands or innocent phone owners, official representatives at the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) explained the true reason behind the regulatory checks.

Screenshot of the notification sent to affected users

An official spokesperson at the commission explained that “the exercise was not directed at any particular brand but was intended to ensure that devices connecting to Nigerian networks had received the necessary approval”.

Guiding everyday phone buyers on how to check their phones immediately so they do not fall victim to sudden network disconnections, technology experts advised citizens to test their devices before paying sellers at phone shops.

Industry reporting guides noted that “to check if your phone is approved for use in Nigeria, dial *dial 315# and follow the instructions to check for your phone or another”.

Phone users across the country are already dialing the star three one five hash shortcode to test their devices. As the 30 day countdown ticks away, market traders, second-hand phone sellers, and everyday citizens are checking their devices to ensure their smartphones remain fully connected to local phone networks.