The Federal Government is set for a switch-off of counterfeit phones and devices from networks by using the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number

The Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu made this disclosure during an interactive session with Phone Brand Owners in Lagos, the DG pointed out that in 2013 alone, over N5 billion was spent by Nigerians on the importation of   fake mobile phones, adding that as at April this year, Nigeria currently has a GSM subscriber base of 126,958,904; and 10 percent of these subscribers (12.6 million) use counterfeit phones.

The SON boss said “Soon government shall announce the directive to switch the fake phones off the networks.”

“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,” he said.

“Brand owners have to inscribe coded identification marks on original phones to ensure traceability and proper user’s guide,” he said.