…As FG Sets New Guidelines On SIM Registration
Barely one week after the earlier directive on the NCC to effect the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators, the Federal Government has further directed that all SIMs without valid National Identity Number (NIN) be blocked latest December 30, 2020.
NCC Director, Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde said in a statement on Tuesday that the new directive was aimed at improving the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process.
He said that following the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) convened an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the Communications industry on Monday, December 14, 2020.
According to Adinde, “to this end, the following decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators:
“Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend the registration of NEW SIMs by all operators;
“Operators to require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records;
“The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (from Wednesday, December 16, 2020, and end by 30 December 2020);
“After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks;
“A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks;
“Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.”
Adinde said the meeting had in attendance the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as well as the CEOs and Management staff of all service providers in the industry.
“At the meeting, the need to consolidate the achievements of last year’s SIM registration audit and improve the performance and sanity of the sector was exhaustively discussed and all stakeholders agreed that urgent drastic measures have now become inevitable to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process,” Adinde further revealed in the statement.
While urging the general public to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data, Adinde noted that the NCC deeply regrets all inconveniences that might be occasioned by this directive.
Recall that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami had in September last year directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to carry out SIM registration audit, which led to the disconnection of about 9.2 million unregistered SIMs nationwide, following the rising rate of insecurity in the country.
Only last week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to immediately suspend the sale, registration and activation of new SIM Cards until the audit exercise ordered by the Federal Government is concluded.
The NCC’s directive was in response to the order by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami that the Commission embarks on another audit of the Subscriber Registration Database again.
Our Correspondent gathered that the latest development was in line with the Federal Government desire to consolidate the achievement of the SIM Card registration exercise of September 2019.
