Nigerians react to FG’s directive for SIMS without NINs to be blocked

SIMS: With the current rising between Nigerians and NCC, Nigerians are agitated to the Federal Government directive for telecommunications companies to block Sim cards that are not registered with the National Identity number.

December 14, which was on Monday, the Nigerian Communications Commission held an emergency meeting chaired by the minister of communications Isa Pantami, where the order was given.

The NCC statements;

”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.

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.

Stakeholders agreed that urgent drastic measures have now become inevitable to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process.

Following decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators: Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend the registration of NEW SIMs by all operators.

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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. The general public is hereby urged to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data,”

Nigerians are agitated by this new development, pointing that it wasn’t well thought-out.

They added that such a directive should not have been given at a time when the. The country is still battling with the COVID19 pandemic. They also addressed that the process of getting NIN has been frustrating.

Kate Henshaw also wrote how displeased she was with the situation.

”Driver’s license – whosai International passport – babu BVN – for where National ID card – anywhere It’s now NIN one needs to get a sim. These people are not going to be satisfied till they bleed us dry and make this hell fiery hot for us. Issokay”