Stakeholders under the Association of Mobile Communication Device Technicians of Nigeria (AMCODET) have called for a phased rollout of the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Device Management System (DMS), saying the current timeline is impractical.
The NCC is introducing the DMS to register SIM-enabled devices in Nigeria as part of efforts to tackle phone theft, counterfeiting and other forms of device-related crime.
The commission had engaged Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers, dealers and vendors to sensitise them about the system and facilitate the onboarding of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers for devices already in stock.
The initial deadline for the onboarding process was September 7, 2026.
However, in an email seen by Chronicle NG, the NCC extended the deadline to October 6, 2026, following concerns raised by stakeholders.
The commission said some stakeholders were unable to complete registration because they did not have the required NCC licences or certifications.
“In response to stakeholder concerns on implementation timeline, the Commission has also extended the deadline for the onboarding of existing devices in stock to the 6th of October 2026 to allow stakeholders sufficient time to complete the process,” the NCC said.
The commission also urged unlicensed OEMs, importers, dealers and vendors to begin the process of obtaining or regularising their licences without further delay.
Stakeholders seek more time
Despite the extension, some stakeholders said the additional time may still not be enough to complete the registration and upload the required IMEI numbers.
“The primary challenge is the duration of the grace period given,” a source said.
“Stakeholders will need more time to complete the necessary registration, for those who are yet to do this, on the portal and upload the IMEIs requested.”
‘Too many grey areas’
Stakeholders also raised concerns over what they described as ambiguity in some aspects of the DMS implementation.
One major concern is the absence of a clearly stated appeal process for devices flagged because of legally damaged IMEIs, particularly where the damage results from software or repair-related glitches.
Questions have also been raised about the potential economic impact of the policy on importers, retailers and consumers.
“With the time frame given, shipments that have been dispatched will have to be subjected to the DMS, and the introduction of unplanned financial burdens. What does this spell economically when we look at the procurement chain from importer to consumer,” a source said.
The stakeholders also noted that although the NCC has indicated plans to train some technicians under the policy, details about the training and its financial implications remain unclear.
Concerns over system capacity
It was reported that the DMS demonstration conducted during the NCC’s stakeholder engagement was not seamless.
The commission reportedly attributed the glitch to an ongoing system update.
But stakeholders questioned whether the platform would be able to cope with the volume of devices expected to be registered once the system becomes fully operational.
“The initiative is commendable. However, the commission needs to ensure it is phased, timed and executed efficiently. Right now, there are too many grey areas and a timeline that is impractical — and those are challenges that should be addressed,” a source said.
According to minutes of the stakeholder engagement, the NCC said it would consider the issues and suggestions raised by participants.
Stakeholders also pointed to Kenya, where authorities gave industry players a two-month notice before a similar policy took effect in January 2025.
