By December 30 this year, any telephone subscriber in Nigeria without valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records will not be able to make or receive calls.
This is part of the decisions taken by the Nigerian government to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process and ultimately, consolidate the achievements of last year”s SIM registration audit.
in a statement issued by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), this decision followed the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
These decision were taken at an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the Communications industry held on Monday, December 14, 2020. 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.
Other decisions taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators include:
- Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend 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 today 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.