FG Suspends registration of new sim cards

                                        

The federal government has taken a decisive decision on the trade and registration of SIM cards - The government, through the ministry of communications and digital economy on Wednesday, December 9, put on seize the process till further notice, At the moment, the government wants strict obedience to the subscriber registration database exercise from all mobile network operators.

In a proposal to ensure compliance among mobile network operators until its audit of the subscriber registration database exercise is concluded, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered the postponement of the sale of new SIM cards.

 

The decision of the NCC was made public by its director of public affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, on Wednesday, December 9, Punch reports. Adinde noted that the order was given by the minister of communications and Digital economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami.

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The NCC spokesman said the process will consolidate the gains of the SIM Card registration exercise and the establishment of quality values by operators.

However, Adinde said exemptions can be given only by the federal government through the commission, and warned that failure to remain to this will attract strict sanctions, including the withdrawal of operating license. Earlier, a new policy by the federal government indicates that persons registering new SIM cards would be required to provide their National Identity Numbers (NIN). This was disclosed by the minister on Wednesday, February 5. According to the minister, non-Nigerians would be required to provide their passports and visas for the process. Pantami said the policy was based on the “comment received from the security agencies following the successful revalidation of indecently registered SIM cards in September 2019 and the blocking of those that failed to revalidate their SIMs