How to check if your phone is approved by NCC to avoid being blocked
Nigerians can now check whether their phones are approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for use on local mobile networks by dialling *315# or visiting the Commission’s official Device Checker website.…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is the government agency responsible for regulating telecoms services and devices in the country, including efforts to curb the use of counterfeit, substandard or stolen phones on local networks. As part of this mandate, the Commission has pushed device-identification systems that rely on a phone's unique IMEI number to verify whether a handset meets regulatory standards before it can connect to Nigerian mobile networks.
The latest guidance lets subscribers confirm a device's approval status themselves, either by dialling the USSD code *315# or using the NCC's online Device Checker, before any potential blocking takes effect. Coverage from Vanguard and Channels TV agrees on the two verification methods, with Channels TV additionally carrying the NCC's clarification that the exercise is meant to confirm regulatory compliance rather than monitor users' calls or messages. Neither report specifies a firm blocking deadline or details on what happens to non-compliant devices already in use, leaving those questions for further clarification from the Commission.