Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on Friday, stated that subscribers did not have to submit their International Mobile Equipment Identity, as the phone data would be automatically captured by a Device Management System that it plans to deploy.

The commission’s explanation was contained in a statement by its Director, Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, titled ‘Subscribers not required to submit International Mobile Equipment Identity number.’

Adinde was reacting to media reports that the commission had in its Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration asked that Nigerians submit the IMEI of their phones to it from July.

He explained that the DMS to be deployed will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks.

The statement read, “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to several media publications to the effect that the Commission will require Nigerians to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July, 2021.

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“At no time did the commission issue a statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so.

“The reports in question have emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website.

“It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Device Management System. The DMS will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks. The system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.”