Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunication operators in the country to block over 9 million SIM cards which are not properly registered with the services.
This followed directives by the Minister of Communications, Dr Ali Ibrahim Pantami after the all agencies and parastatals under the ministry were directed on the submission of a short-term performance.
Based on the directive, the NCC submitted its report in which it stated the figures of improperly registered SIM cards in use around the country across all telecommunication operators.
The Commission in its report disclosed that an estimated 9.2 million SIM cards did not comply with the proper procedures of SIM registration.
The Minister then directed NCC to ensure all mobile network operators block all SIM cards that do not meet proper registration standards until users comply with proper re-registration procedures.
The Federal Ministry of Communications has said it is working in line with the Federal Government’s orders and that it will not tolerate any actions or inaction that can compromise the nation’s security.
Business Post recalls that in in 2016, the NCC fined MTN Nigeria $5.2 billion for not meeting the deadline set up by the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for disconnection of Subscribers Identification Modules (SIM) with improper registration.
The compliance audit carried out by the NCC on MTN network revealed unregistered 5.2 million customers lines un-deactivated, leading to NCC fining MTN with the sum of $1000 for each unregistered SIM, which amounted to $5.2 billion.
