The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali-Pantami, released a statement on Wednesday, directing the National Communication Commission, NCC to revise the Policy on SIM Card registration and usage.
Ali-Pantami instructed the NCC to ensure that Nigerians should only be allowed to own a maximum of three SIM cards.
The revision of the Policy is based on the feedback received from the security agencies, following the successful revalidation of improperly registered SIM cards in September 2019 and the blocking of those that failed to revalidate their SIMs.
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The statement signed by his Technical Assistant, Dr. Femi Adeluyi, further directed the commission to ensure that the National Identity Number, NIN, becomes a prerequisite for Nigerians registering new SIM cards, while for foreigners, their passports and visas should be used.
According to him, the already registered SIM cards are to be updated with the NIN before December 1, 2020.
“There should be a maximum number of SIM cards that can be tied to a single individual, possibly a maximum of 3;
”Ensure that no unregistered SIMs are ever allowed on mobile networks; Ensure that subscribers can easily check the number of SIM cards registered to their name, along with the associated phone numbers and networks.
“Ensure that SIM cards that have been used to perpetrate crimes are permanently deactivated,” the statement noted.
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Ensure that mobile network operators fortify their networks against cyberattacks and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR); and
“The NCC is to provide the minister with progress reports on the implementation of the revised policy.”
Commenting on the directive, telecommunication operators said the new measures may not stop criminal activities in the country. The President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola said the next move by criminals will be to get as many NINs they need to register SIM cards for their nefarious activities.
Teniola listed the post-code system and digital address system as measures that worked in other climes including the United Kingdom (UK) and Ghana, as he urged the Minister to take the issue of the digital address system seriously.
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