From July, Nigerians will be requested to issue their phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity to the Nigerian Communications Commission. The order was issued by President Buhari, according to the commission, which announced it in its Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

The aim of the exercise, according to the NCC, is to reduce the counterfeit mobile phone market, prevent mobile phone fraud, improve national security, protect consumer interests, increase government revenue generation, reduce the incidence of kidnapping, minimize the use of stolen phones for crime, and make blocking and tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices easier.

According to the regulatory body,

“Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.

“With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.

“The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.

“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”