In a bid to checkmate security implications associated with the use of pre-registered SIM cards to facilitate criminal activities, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has directed Telecommunication companies in the country to suspend the sales and reactivation of new SIM cards.
The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde made this known in a statement released on Wednesday. The statement also revealed that the commission has written a letter to telecommunication companies on Monday, December 7 that it is going embarking on an audit of the subscriber registration database.
“In accordance with the federal government directive to consolidate the achievement of the SIM card registration exercise and verify compliance, the commission is embarking on an audit of the subscriber registration database to ensure compliance to set quality standards and requirements.
Accordingly, you are hereby directed to suspend the sale and activation of new SIM cards on your network until the audit exercise is completed.
However, when it is absolutely necessary, an exemption may be granted following approval from the federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Please note that failure to comply with this directive will be met with strict sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license” the letter signed by A.I. Sholanke, NCC director for projects, reads.
Recall that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila had raised an alarm on the threat posed by unregistered SIM cards and had called on the management of the NCC to ensure the registration of all SIM cards in the country.
