Tuesday, December 24

Why FG Orders Suspension of Sale of New SIM Card

By Dele Ogbodo

In a bid to consolidate the achievement of the SIM Card registration exercise of September 2019, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,

Dr. Ibrahim Pantami, has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to embark on another audit of the Subscriber Registration Database again.

The objective of the audit exercise according to NCC is to verify and ensure compliance by all telecommunication operators with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM Card Registration as issued by the ministry and the commission.

Accordingly, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are hereby directed to immediately suspend the sale, registration and activation of new SIM Cards until the audit exercise is concluded as the government has conveyed the new direction to them.

However, where it is absolutely necessary, an exemption may be granted in writing by the Commission following approval from the Federal Government.

MNOs are to please note that non-compliance with this directive will be met with strict sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.

As the Minister has earlier directed in January 2020, NCC, said all citizens are urged to immediately secure digital identification from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and submit it to the network operators.

 

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