The implementation of a Device Management System (DMS) which will allow the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC to collect International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI in Nigeria has been approved by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
Within the next three months, IMEI submission with the DMS, otherwise called Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), will go into full swings.
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About DMS and IMEI submission Nigeria
The Device Management System, DMS in Nigeria will enable the following:
- Registration and capturing of IMEIs of all mobile phones and other smart devices. According to the NCC, the DMS will serve as a repository for sharing data of stolen devices across all networks.
- Ensure all un-registered devices do not work in any of the Networks in Nigeria.
- Ensure every reported IMEIs for stolen and illegal mobile phones and other smart devices are blacklisted and shared with all operators across all networks hence mitigatiing mobile phone theft.
- Blacklist and render all stolen mobile phones and other smart devices valueless in the Nigerian mobile phones market.
- The use of digital technology solutions to address key issues bothering Nigerians in the Telecommunication Sector.
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Is it constitutional of collect IMEI?
Sim registration is not constitutional neither is IMEI submission which comes right after the mandatory registration and linking of SIM cards by the Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy, headed by Isa Pantami, Nigeria’s minister entangled win terrorism issues.
However, the NCC lists a number of things it can achieve with the submission of IMEI.
- 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
- Facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices
Furthermore, IMEI submission will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ IMEI and owners of such devices.