Nigerians have taken to social media to rubbish Issa Pantami’s NCC over its new directive, asking them to submit their mobile phone’s IMEI number during SIM card registration.
The IMEI number is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had earlier announced a revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration asking Nigerians to submit their mobile phone’s IMEI during SIM registration.
This burgeoning news platform gathered that the NCC also stated that the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.
“With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.
“The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.
“IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.” The NCC said
However, Nigerians have kicked against this new directive and vowed never to submit their IMEI to the NCC for any reason saying that the government should track the bandits and other terrorists causing havoc in the country.
See some reactions below…
Duke of Ibadan (@_AsiwajuLerry);
“It seems Nigerian Government’s aim is to strip its citizens of their entire privacy, “From linking NIN with SIM cards and now we have to submit our phone’s IMEI? I’ve made one mistake linking my NIN; I won’t repeat such thing again.”
Reno Omokri;
“What moral right does NCC have to order Nigerians to submit their phone IDs to them when their boss, @DrIsaPantami, is a known terror sympathiser, who rejoices when non-Muslims are killed? Anyone who knowingly submits such details to a terror sympathiser is unwise!”
Elder Seun (@iamseunalaofin);
“We did NIN (National Identification Number), we did BVN (Bank Verification Number), now they want us to drop our phone’s IMEI number.
“Very soon they would tell us to put Buhari’s portrait in our homes for one reason we don’t know yet. At this stage anyone that believes in this government needs Bigi Apple to get their senses back!”
NEFERTITI (@firstladyship);
“NCC said Nigerians must submit their phone IMEI from July, and it’s mandatory. Obadiah Mailafia already told us ‘they will move to Phase 2 by 2022.’ With your phone IMEI, they will track your whereabouts. And Isa Pantami has access to your NIN-SIM Registration information.”
Elvis Tunde (@Tundekvng);
“I haven’t linked my NIN and I’m definitely not going to submit my IMEI to NCC and Isa Pantami. Patapata, I will relocate to Togo,”
@DanielRegha;
“The govt has no right whatsoever to ask Nigerians for their phone IMEI cos according to Sect 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigerians have a “Right to private and family life” which means no Nigerian is obligated to release his or her phone IMEI.”
@Monnyx4;
“The greatest mistake I made was linking my Sim and Nin together however they’ve failed….. It’s only a Mad Man that will releas
