NCC offers advisory against use of unapproved phones, gadgets

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulatory body overseeing the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, has issued an advisory to traders and stakeholders regarding the sale and purchase of phones and telecommunications gadgets that are not type approved by the commission. 

The NCC in a recent public statement highlighted the negative consequences associated with unapproved devices and emphasised the importance of compliance with regulatory standards.

The warning comes in response to the growing concern over the proliferation of unapproved electronic gadgets in the Nigerian market. Non-type approved telecom devices are supplied to the Nigerian market from grey sources and are known to degrade quality of services in the network.

According to the NCC, these unapproved devices pose significant risks to consumers, public safety, and the integrity of the telecommunications network, adding that the dangers associated with these devices include the inability to meet the required technical specifications, causing interference and signal congestion, leading to call drops, poor data connections, and compromised service quality. Such disruptions not only inconvenience users but also strain the overall network infrastructure.

The certification of telecom devices used in the telecom sector is one of the mandates of the NCC as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (2003) whose central objective is the “protection of the rights and interests of consumers”.

Emilia Nwokoro, deputy director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, who spoke on behalf of Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the NCC, at the 5th edition of Market Conversation, a telecom consumer outreach programme of NCC, which took place recently at the GSM Village in Abuja, said the event was part of the sensitization efforts of the commission to address the issue.

She said there is a need to sensitise traders at the market about the implications of trading in substandard products as they may face the risk of arrest and prosecution when found selling non-type approved devices.

“The essence of coming here today is to enlighten the traders on the dangers of selling non type-approved devices. The NCC established procedures for certifying telecom products sellable and usable in Nigeria, and that explains the Commission’s efforts to raise awareness to ensure that substandard products are not circulated in any market in Nigeria,” she said.

She informed them that the procedure for approval of telecom devices has been established by the Commission, and all type approved devices have been published on the NCC website for public and user reference. Therefore, traders should take advantage of this information to identify type approved against none type approved phone devices. 

Macdonald Ajuogu, chairman, GSM Village Market, Abuja, said the market union has a task force that monitors the types and standards of devices sold there, and that the association has also put measures in place to deal with any member that goes against their rules.

“Normally, we have a platform in the market whereby anybody that deals with any phone in the market is registered with the union and we also have a task force that always checks on any product that is being sold in the market, including computers that are sold in the GSM village,” he explained.

Experts believe that the use of unapproved phones may expose users to cybersecurity threats and privacy breaches. Such gadgets might lack essential security features, making them susceptible to malware and hacking attempts. This compromises the personal information and sensitive data of the users, potentially leading to identity theft and financial fraud.