The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all phone users to submit their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) to the Commission within three months (July) or face disconnection from social networks.
According to the commission, the new directive was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and is aimed at tackling terrorism, phone theft, counterfeit phone market, kidnapping, increase government revenue among others.
The commission also noted that the International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI would be centralized to form a device management system that will shared to all network providers.
The IMEI number is the mobile phone’s fingerprint. It is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.
This number is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone, but can also be displayed on-screen on most phones by entering *#06#.
Following the new order by the federal government, Nigerians are expected to keep in touch with their network providers for further directive.