House urges review of phone verification rules

The Nigerian House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to review its mobile-device verification requirements, citing potential price increases and the risk that legitimate used phones could be rejected or blocked. The House directed its Committees on Communications and Commerce to consult the commission and other stakeholders, then report back within four weeks. The resolution followed a motion by Sani Wakili, who represents a Kano constituency. Lawmakers said compliance costs and technical difficulties could affect importers and retailers, including small businesses, and could be passed on to consumers. They called for simpler procedures and a fair, accessible process for checking secondhand phones. The House’s concerns describe possible effects, not confirmed cases of price increases or genuine devices being wrongly rejected. The resolution acknowledged the NCC’s efforts to address counterfeit, cloned and stolen devices while asking that enforcement avoid unfairly burdening lawful businesses and users. The Committee on Legislative Compliance was assigned to ensure the resolution is carried out. The NCC, meanwhile, says its Device Checker is...