Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has kicked against the directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission that requires Nigerians to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones.
The NCC had announced that the directive aims to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance national security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices.
Reacting on Twitter, SERAP described it as illegal, adding that it amounts to mass surveillance which is contrary to the 1999 Constitution.
The rights group urged President Buhari to direct the Nigerian Communications Commission to immediately withdraw the illegal directive asking Nigerians to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones.
