There is uproar among Nigerians over the reported move by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) requiring them to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IME) of their phones and other smart devices to the commission from July.

The IMEI is an identification number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.

NCC said the move is expected to “curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance national security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices.”

The Commission plans to achieve this through the deployment of a Device Management System (DMS) which will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ IMEI and owners of such devices.

According to the directive, “His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the device management system should be implemented within three months,” the policy read.

“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers. The purpose is to ensure that such devices do not work even if different SIM cards are inserted in those devices.

“DMS will also provide access to all operators to cross-check the IMEIs and their status before allowing a device to become active on their network.

“Furthermore, registered mobile phone technicians will also be provided with an interface to check IMEIs and ensure it has not been reported as stolen or illegal before they render their technical services.” NCC said

Nigerians have been voicing their opposition to the move on social media, saying the policy will only be used by the government to spy on the citizens in contravention of the provisions of the constitution.

We bring you some of their reactions as seen on micro blogging platform Twitter. 

@ayemojubar wrote: "You are at the mercy of whoever has your BVN, NIN and IMEI -- your finances, your communication channels, your contacts, colleagues and family, your location, I mean the complete organogram of your existence." 

@UNCLE_AJALA said: "Isa Pantami have access to our NIN, now NCC is mandating Nigerians to submit IMEI of phones from July 2021.

I hope FG won't be mad if people don't comply with this IMEI directives, because when people asked for the resignation of Isa Pantami for his extremism, FG didn't comply."

@BhadmusAkeem wrote: "NCC wants to collect your IMEI after you've linked your NIN to your SIM, so that tracking and jailing you will be so easy. Cloning your device will be as simple as ABC. Social media bill won't even be needed before finding & killing you. Do not fall into Isa Pantami's trap again."

@TheBriDen wrote: "I will trek through the evil wilderness of Niger Republic, the dry scorching and dangerous deserts of Libya and serve as a slave for 2 years in Libya before crossing over to Europe to do prostitution than to give Isa Pandemic my IMEI number."

@SheunAdeola wrote:" FG wants my IMEI number after getting my BVN and NIN??? George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four Novel no do pass this o."