Phones have become an indispensable part of daily life in Nigeria, serving as essential tools for communication, social interaction, and business operations. When a phone is lost or someone’s safety is at risk, knowing how to track a phone number becomes crucial.
Tracking a phone in Nigeria isn’t something you can do freely; there are strict privacy laws to protect people. In 2025, tracking is only permitted in specific situations. For example, you can use apps like Google Find My Device or Apple’s Find My to locate your lost phone. However, tracking someone else’s device, even for good reasons, requires legal authorisation or their explicit consent. This makes it tricky for most people to figure out how to track a phone number legally in Nigeria. One law you should be aware of is the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023. It was signed into law on June 12, 2023, and establishes clear rules regarding the handling of personal information. It also led to the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which ensures that these rules are adhered to.
This means that using shady apps or relying on tricks to track phones without permission is no longer a grey area; it’s simply illegal.
Here’s a table to help you understand the main tracking options available in Nigeria in 2025:
How law enforcement tracks phones in Nigeria
If your phone gets stolen or there’s a criminal investigation, there are official ways phones can be tracked in Nigeria, but only by the right authorities. These methods are legal, reliable, and supported by robust systems designed to ensure national security and public safety.
1. IMEI tracking:
Every mobile phone has a unique 15-digit code, known as the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). It’s like a fingerprint for your phone. When you make a call or send a text, your phone shares its IMEI number with the network. This enables tracking of the device, even if the SIM card is replaced.
But here’s the catch: only police and approved security agencies are allowed to track phones using IMEI numbers. You can’t track someone’s phone yourself using their IMEI; it’s against the law. So while you can’t use IMEI personally, it’s still a valid method when asking how to track a phone number through official means.
If your phone goes missing, the right thing to do is to report it to the police. You’ll need to give:
Your IMEI number (dial *#06# on your phone to find it)
A formal police report
Your contact number and an email address
The police can then begin tracking through legal channels.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has also introduced a Device Management System (DMS). This system connects Nigerian phone records to global IMEI databases. If your phone is blacklisted, it becomes useless on all networks in the country, this helps reduce theft and blocks the resale of stolen phones.
2. How telcos help police track phones
Mobile network providers, such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile, also play a significant role. By law, they must work with law enforcement to help track criminal activity and protect national safety.
These companies provide what is called call data, including details such as who called whom, when, and where. In many cases, this data can be accessed by the police with written approval from a senior officer, even without a court order.
Government officials have made it clear: telcos must cooperate. If they don’t, they can be penalised.
Still, there are challenges. Audits by the NCC have found that some providers didn’t fully follow SIM registration and data protection rules. This means that while the law is in place, proper enforcement still needs improvement to ensure the tracking process remains reliable.
3. NIN and SIM registration:
You’ve probably heard of the NIN-SIM linkage. This means every phone number must be tied to a National Identity Number (NIN). It’s not optional.
Since the regulation started, over 153 million SIM cards have been linked to NINs in Nigeria. The goal is to make sure every SIM card is connected to a real person. This helps security agencies trace phone activity back to individuals. This linkage is also vital for authorities when determining how to track a phone number tied to suspicious or criminal activity.
For example, if someone uses their phone during a crime, the police can identify the owner through the National Identity Number (NIN) associated with the SIM card. Telecom providers like MTN even offer online portals that allow you to check if your line is linked correctly.
When you combine SIM registration with the DMS system that tracks IMEI numbers, the government gets a much clearer view of who is using each phone, and where.
4. NCC’s Device Management System (DMS):
The Device Management System (DMS) is a tool created by the NCC to control and monitor all phones in Nigeria. It collects the IMEI numbers of every device connected to a Nigerian network and checks them against international databases.
The goal? To stop fake or stolen phones from working, protect phone users, and help police track down phones used in crimes.
Once a phone’s IMEI is reported as stolen, it’s added to a blacklist shared with all mobile networks. This means even if someone changes the SIM, the phone won’t work.
The DMS also helps:
Reduce phone theft and kidnappings
Stop illegal phones from entering the market
Protect users from buying blacklisted devices
But there’s a concern: the system is powerful, and there isn’t much public information on how long data is stored or how your privacy is protected. Although it enhances safety, it also opens the door to potential overreach.
5. Cell tower triangulation:
Another method law enforcement can use to track phones is cell tower triangulation. Every time your phone is on, it connects with the nearest cell towers. By checking which towers your phone talked to and how strong the signal was, authorities can figure out roughly where the phone is.
If the phone connects to at least three towers simultaneously, they can triangulate your position, typically with an accuracy of about 70–80%. Add GPS tracking, and that jumps to about 90%.
This method helps police get both:
Real-time location data (where the phone is right now)
Historical data (where the phone has been)
Telecom companies store this info, and police can access it through legal requests or court orders. Because every registered SIM is tied to a person’s NIN, it becomes easier to know who used the phone and when.
This method is trusted worldwide and remains one of the most precise ways on how to track a phone number, to locate suspects and solve crimes.
How to track a phone number the right way
You don’t need to go through the police just to find a lost phone, to keep an eye on your child’s device or learn how to track a phone number. If you’re trying to track your phone or have the clear permission of a family member, there are trusted apps that can help. These apps are built into your phone or can be downloaded from app stores.
1. Google Find My Device (for Android users)
If you use an Android phone, Google Find My Device is one of the easiest ways to track it. Once you add your Google account to your phone, this feature is automatically turned on (unless you’ve disabled it).
With it, you can:
See your phone on a map
Make it ring loudly, even if it’s on silent
Lock it remotely or show a message on the screen
Erase everything on it if you can’t get it back
But for this to work, your phone must be:
Turned on
Connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data
Signed into your Google account
Visible on Google Play
Location services are turned on
If you use Family Link to manage your child’s device, their phone will also show up automatically in your Find My Device app. This makes it easier to manage family safety.
2. Apple Find My (for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users)
For iPhone and other Apple devices, Find My works similarly. You can:
Find the phone on a map
Play a sound
Lock or erase it
Apple goes a step further. With newer iPhones (iPhone 12 and up), you can still see where the phone was, even if it’s offline or turned off. It does this using nearby Apple devices in the network to send the location.
However, this feature doesn’t work on older iPhones. And if the phone is off or lacks a signal, even newer iPhones may not update their location until they come online again.
3. Third-Party tracking apps
There are also apps you can download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to track phones with consent. These apps are popular for families or small groups who agree to share their locations. They’re a simple and legal answer to the question of how to track a phone number without breaking Nigeria’s privacy laws.
Here are a few examples:
Life360: Tracks phones within a private group (called a Circle). It also offers alerts, crash detection, and SOS features. Works only if GPS and data are on.
Find My Phone: Family Locator: Lets you find a device by phone number. Some features require a paid subscription.
Tracky: Keeps track of past locations and shares real-time updates. Works well when the phone has a good signal.
Phone Tracker By Number: Sends a request to the phone you’re tracking. Once they accept it, you can see their location.
Find Lost Phone: Find My Phone: Useful if your phone is nearby. It can cause the phone to ring loudly, even when it’s in silent mode.
It’s important to note that these apps only work with consent. You can’t install or use them secretly. Doing so is against the law and violates Nigeria’s Data Protection Act (NDPA 2023).
Table: Comparison of legitimate personal tracking apps
Phone tracking myths you shouldn’t fall for
There’s a lot of confusion around phone tracking in Nigeria. Some people try shortcuts that either don’t work, are illegal, or put them at risk of scams. Let’s break down the most common myths and what you need to watch out for.
1. You can track a phone using USSD codes
You may have seen messages or videos claiming that dialling a specific USSD code (like *123#) can help you track a phone. This is false.
USSD codes are short numbers you use to check airtime, buy data, recharge your line, or make mobile transfers. For example:
MTN: *310# to check balance, *312# to buy data
OPay: *955# to check balance, 9551# to send money
None of these codes is meant for tracking phones. They help you talk to your network provider’s system, not locate a missing device. Believing otherwise wastes time and may expose you to shady websites or apps that don’t work.
2. Regular people can use Stingray devices
Stingray devices (also known as IMSI catchers) are tools used by federal security agencies to track people under investigation. They work by pretending to be a cell tower and tricking phones nearby into connecting.
Once connected, the Stingray can collect location data, call records, and more. But this tech is:
Illegal for private use
Expensive and hard to get
Only approved for police or national security agencies, and usually requires a court order.
Even when used by officials, Stingrays come with privacy concerns. They don’t just track the target; they can pick up data from any phone nearby, including yours. That’s why their use is controversial and closely watched in many countries, including Nigeria.
If anyone offers you this service online, avoid it. It’s likely a scam, or worse, an illegal setup.
3. Phone repair shops can track phones
Repair shops in places like Computer Village in Lagos fix phones; they don’t track them.
They can help with:
Replacing broken screens
Fixing charging issues
Recovering files from a damaged phone
However, they lack access to networks and law enforcement databases. If your phone is lost or stolen, they can’t help you trace it. At best, they can check if someone brings in your stolen device for repairs.
Computer Village has made an effort to improve its image. Vendors now register with ID cards, and security features like CCTV and emergency alert systems are being installed. But again, these are crime prevention tools, not tracking tools.
4. SIM cloning helps you track a phone
SIM cloning means copying someone’s SIM card to gain access to their calls and messages. This is not only illegal but also a serious cybercrime.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has made it very hard to replace a SIM card without proof of ownership. If you lose your SIM, you’ll need to:
Provide frequently called numbers
Bring a valid ID and a passport photo
Submit an affidavit and proof of recharge
Get your picture taken by the telco
Trying to clone a SIM or asking someone to do it for tracking is a criminal offence. It can lead to jail time, heavy fines, or both, and it opens the door to other crimes, such as identity theft and fraud.
So if someone offers to clone a SIM so you can “see their messages” or “track their phone,” walk away.
5. You can pay someone on social media to track a phone
Scammers often take advantage of people desperate to recover a lost or stolen phone. They promise tracking services online, then disappear with your money or personal info.
Some even pretend to be friends online, gain your trust, and then trick you into sending private information or photos. Later, they blackmail victims using threats or fake screenshots.
This is called:
Romance scams (fake relationships used to steal money)
Sextortion scams (threats made using intimate photos)
The FBI has even sent teams to Nigeria to deal with this issue, especially after cases where victims were pushed to the edge. In some heartbreaking cases, victims took their own lives.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
Never send money to anyone claiming they can track a phone online
Avoid offers that sound “too good to be true.”
Don’t share personal info with strangers, even if they seem friendly
If you’ve already been targeted, report it to the FBI’s IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Centre) or a trusted cybersecurity firm
Final thoughts: Two legal ways to track a phone
There are only two trusted paths to follow:
1. Go through law enforcement
If your phone is stolen or you’re helping someone recover theirs, report it to the police. They can track it using the phone’s IMEI number, with assistance from network providers such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
Other tools that help law enforcement include:
SIM-NIN linkage (which ties phone numbers to real identities)
The NCC’s Device Management System (DMS) that blacklists stolen phones
Cell tower triangulation to find phone locations
These methods are only available to authorised agencies, not private individuals.
2. Use personal tracking tools
If you’ve misplaced your phone or want to keep tabs on a family member with their permission, you can use:
Google Find My Device (for Android)
Apple Find My (for iPhones and other Apple devices)
Third-party apps like Life360, only when everyone involved gives clear consent
Keep in mind: these tools only work if the phone is:
Turned on
Connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi
Has location services enabled
If a thief turns off the phone, removes the SIM, or resets it, these tools will stop working.
Don’t take illegal shortcuts
Avoid anything that sounds like a secret hack or backdoor. This includes:
SIM cloning
Stingray or IMSI catcher devices
Paying someone on social media to “help you track” a phone
These methods are illegal, unsafe, and often scams. You could lose money, fall victim to blackmail, or even break the law without knowing it.
