'We Deserve Some Privacy': Nigerians Slam NCC’s IMEI, Phone IDs Directive

 

Some Nigerians have taken to Twitter to speak against the new order by the federal government for citizens to submit their identification number of their phones.

 

The government made this known through the Nigerian Communications Commission. It said the order will become effective from July.

 

Reacting, a Twitter user, Funmi @rusticfunmi tweeted “The tyrannical federal government of Nigeria has now demanded our IMEI numbers in order to identify and track us via our phones. This demand by the NCC is a violation of our privacy and is ILLEGAL.. our 'supposed' constitution stands against such intrusion on our privacy.”

 

Edward Bode @edwardbode said “This NIN I submitted was a mistake, I will never submit my IMEI to the government. We all deserve some privacy!!!!!”

 

Emeka Amakeze @EmekaAmakeze tweeted “Nigerians to submit their phone’s IMEI number.We know that anybody with your phone's IMEI number can remotely render your phone useless, track it or use it for malicious purposes. What exactly does NCC want?”

 

Twitter user, @ezenibenonny wondered about the moral standing of government to even issue the directive, tweeting“ So, I will buy phone with my money and submit the IMEI to government that never cared about me. Buhari, I won't do it.”

 

Taking a different perspective is Twitter user @royaltyuso, who believed that the directive will not be sustained. He tweeted, “No policy in Nigeria works. Everything will get an extension till it fails or gets abandoned. Can’t be bothered about IMEI submission.”