The Nigerian federal government has announced a new rule that will require every mobile phone sold or connected to a Nigerian network to be registered with the Communications Commission’s Device Management System (DMS). The move, aimed at curbing stolen, cloned and unapproved devices, has sparked fears that it could push smartphone prices higher.
The DMS will use each device’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to create a central registry. Importers must obtain NCC type approval, upload IMEIs and purchase invoices, pay a validation fee and receive a pre‑authorisation QR code before the device can be whitelisted for network use. The Customs Service will then verify the information for duty assessment.
Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, said the system would strengthen compliance with type‑approval requirements and help ensure that imported phones meet required standards. He also clarified that the DMS is for device identification and regulatory compliance only, and does not grant the regulator access to users’ private communications.
Stakeholders warn that the validation charges—about N670 per IMEI for lower‑cost phones and slightly above N3,700 for high‑end models—could become a significant cost in an already expensive supply chain. While the fees are small compared with premium smartphone prices, an anonymous senior official noted that importers might add N15,000 to N20,000 to a device’s retail price to cover the cost, a concern in an inflationary economy.
Current market prices have already risen: budget phones that once sold for N50,000 to N100,000 now fetch N75,000 to N150,000; mid‑range devices that previously cost N180,000 to N350,000 now range from N250,000 to N500,000; and premium models can exceed N1 million. The DMS is not responsible for these existing increases, but its enforcement could allow further price hikes.
The system is also intended to improve visibility into the flow of mobile devices entering Nigeria through informal channels. By linking IMEI records with import documentation, Customs hopes to close loopholes that have allowed unregistered devices to enter the market. While licensed distributors may benefit from a level playing field, smaller traders on thin margins could find the additional administrative requirements burdensome.
“The central registry will strengthen compliance with the Commission’s type‑approval requirements and ensure that devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria meet required standards,” said Edoyemi Ogoh.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>