Last Friday, news of the National Communications Commission (NCC) International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) directive circulated the airwaves.
According to the directive, the NCC is mandating all phone owners to submit their IMEI within three months to a Centralized Equipment Identity Register, also known as Device Management System (DMS). IMEI is a unique 15 digit number used to identify a device on a mobile network.
The Commission wants to leverage the information to curb mobile phone theft, enhance national security, reduce kidnapping, and other crimes. The plan seems good, but given the government’s history on human rights, the news did not go down well with Nigerians, and they stated their displeasure on Twitter.
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Last updated: January 28, 2025
