Federal Govt. Set To Disconnect 12.6million Fake Phones In Nigeria

Reports have revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has concluded plans to instruct telephone manufacturers in the country to disconnect more than 12.6 million counterfiet phones.

It was learnt that this decision was aimed at protecting consumer rights, while boosting both government and manufacturers' revenue.

Earlier, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had announced the disconnection shortly after the Hewlett Packard's Anti-counterfieting Conference which took place 2 weeks ago in Abuja.

The SON also said that the switch-offs would be carried out using the devices' International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.

According to the SON Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, over $30.7m (N5bn) was spent on the importation of of substandard mobile phones in Nigeria last year alone.

In April this year, Odumodu said Nigeria had a mobile subscriber base of 126,958,904 users, of which 10 per cent – 12.6 million – use counterfeit phones.

Odumodu also said that according to Humanipo.com, switching off these fake phones would boost consumer rights protection, increase rvenue for the government through taxes, and also raise the revenue for mobile phone manufacturers.

He said: "As more countries switch off counterfeit phones, the people behind this scourge will keep moving to countries that are yet to adopt this solution, hence the urgent need to address the situation.

"Brand owners have to inscribe coded identification marks on original phones to ensure traceability and proper user’s guide."

He also added that the switch-off would have the effect of improving mobile networks in Nigeria.