The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has dismissed concerns that the Device Checker Platform posed security threats, just as it refuted claims that the platform could infringe on users’ personal privacy.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Kano State on the enforcement of the initiative, the NCC Kano Zonal Controller, Maigana Gidado, stressed that the newly introduced platform was not a “surveillance access to personal data, messages, photographs, contacts, financial information, or any other private content stored on a device.”

Rather, he maintained that the initiative was designed to strengthen Type Approval compliance, protect consumers and enhance the integrity of communications devices used on Nigerian networks.

Meanwhile, amid fears that the policy could raise handset prices and lead to legitimate devices being blocked, the House of Representatives yesterday called for a review of the NCC’s phone verification rules.

The lawmakers urged the NCC to simplify verification procedures, reduce compliance costs and establish a fair and accessible process for verifying used and second-hand devices.

They warned that compliance costs could burden importers and retailers, who might in turn transfer the additional expenses to consumers, making mobile phones less affordable.

However, Gidado emphasised that the measure was intended to deepen the intelligence and safety of devices and users, clarifying that the technology is limited to device identification and regulatory compliance verification.

On its credibility, Gidado explained that the Device Checker Platform supports the verification of the Type Approval status of SIM-enabled devices and helps address the circulation of non-compliant, counterfeit, cloned, and unauthorised devices in the market.

According to him, the NCC has streamlined the licensing and regularisation process that enabled a significant number of device dealers in Kano to get licensed, and has also developed a user-friendly Device Checker application that enables authorised stakeholders to quickly scan device IMEIs and upload information directly to the platform, improving efficiency and ease of compliance.

The lawmakers’ warning followed a motion by Sani Wakili (Kano State), who urged the commission to review the implementation of its verification framework in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The lawmakers expressed concern that the enhanced requirements, which took effect on October 7, 2026, could increase operating costs for businesses involved in importing and selling mobile phones.

They also warned that technical errors, database mismatches and limitations in the verification system could result in legitimate devices being wrongly rejected or blocked.

According to the House, such problems could particularly affect the second-hand phone market, which many Nigerians depend on for cheaper alternatives to new handsets.