The NCC is introducing a central database to block fake and stolen phones, but activists worry about data privacy and phone safety.
The Nigerian Communications Commission, the government agency overseeing phone lines and internet in Nigeria, is working to launch a central database system to manage mobile phones nationwide.
This regulatory framework, officially called the Device Management System, relies on a master registry named the Central Equipment Identity Register to track unique identification numbers for every phone.
Although government officials designed the project to stop fake phones, smuggled devices, and phone theft, human rights activists and consumer groups are raising serious worries about personal privacy and computer system safety.
The implementation of this mobile phone database affects phone users, market sellers, and mobile networks across all states in Nigeria.
To give businesses more time to submit their phone records into the central computer system, government regulators pushed the compliance deadline from early September to October 6, 2026.
The system works by collecting the unique 15 digit identity number, called the International Mobile Equipment Identity, of every mobile phone and tablet operating in the country.
The primary reason why government officials created this device tracking system is to clean up the phone market and protect people from buying stolen or fake hand held devices.
Under the new rules, any mobile phone that is not properly registered or approved by government inspectors will be barred from making calls, sending text messages, or connecting to mobile internet on Nigerian networks.
Additionally, if a citizen loses a phone to thieves, the central system can block the stolen device nationwide so that nobody else can sell or use it.
However, digital rights activists warn that keeping a massive central database of all phone identity numbers could allow government officials or network hackers to track people, listen to private conversations, or monitor location data without clear permission.
Beyond data security concerns, small business owners in busy markets like Computer Village in Lagos express fear that the new rules could hurt their daily livelihoods.
Many local repair technicians fix damaged phones by updating software or replacing broken parts, which can accidentally change a phone’s internal identity code.
If the government computer flags these repaired phones as illegal, innocent buyers could suddenly find their line blocked with no simple way to appeal the decision.
Furthermore, tech experts fear that if the government server suffers technical glitches, millions of normal citizens could lose network connection at once.
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Raising concerns about border smuggling and consumer privacy protection, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers President Deolu Ogunbanjo begged regulators to ensure total confidentiality and data safety, noting that without big public education campaigns, the policy risks confusion.
Explaining why digital rights advocates remain cautious about centralizing technical information, privacy rights activist Bimpe Adekola stated, “Any system that centralises device data on this scale inevitably raises surveillance and data privacy concerns.”
She urged the government to provide complete transparency regarding who can read the data and what laws protect citizens against personal data misuse.
This new device tracking framework marks an important moment for phone owners, market sellers, and digital rights across Nigeria.
As government officials move closer to the October deadline, everyday phone users hope the regulator will protect personal privacy, fix computer bugs, and ensure that honest citizens can continue using their mobile phones without unexpected network network cut offs.
