“This Is A Violation Of Our Privacy!”, Nigerians React To IMEI Submission Directive

Nigerians have reacted massively to the mandatory directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC for all citizens to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity IMEI of their phones, saying it is an invasion to their privacy.
Recall that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had given a report of over 54 million Nigerians linking their NIN with their SIM cards, and had the President launch the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector and the Revised National Digital Identity Policy in May. The directive which is contained in the NCC’s policy, which seeks the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is said to be aimed at curtailing counterfeit phone market, discouraging phone mobile theft as well as increasing revenue generation for the government and reducing the rate of kidnapping.
Nigerians, however, will not have this as they condemned this move of the Government and promised not to submit their phones IMEI to the Government.
Read also: NCC Directs Telecomms To Block SIM Cards Not Connected To NIN
“Isa Pantami is the minister for invasion of privacy of law abiding citizens. He has to be stopped, before he destroys what’s left of Nigeria. What is he looking for in our phone’s IMEI? Coupled with the attorney general of ethnic profiling? WHEN WOULD THESE NONSENSES END?“, @FestusGreen tweeted. “The Federal Government can do their worse for all I care. All I know is there isn’t anyway they can stop me from using my phone if I don’t drop my IMEI Number. It’s really absurd to even think about it. Backward country“,@tommy_viccetti wrote. See more reactions below: TRENDING VIDEO OF THE DAY: KOKO Top Stories
Photos Credit: Getty