The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given telecommunications operators in the country two weeks to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN).
It warned that any telecom operators that failed to comply with the directive risked outright withdrawal of its licence or heavy penalty.
A statement on Tuesday by the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, noted 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.”
Adinde said submission of NIN by subscribers must take place from December 16 to December 30.
“After the deadline, all SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks,” he said.
The statement said that a Ministerial Task Force had been tasked with monitoring compliance by all networks, and thar violations would be met with stiff sanctions including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.
Adinde said stakeholders agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that drastic measures urgently needed to be implemented to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process in Nigeria.