Insecurity: Federal Government To Restrict Ownership Of Sim Cards To Three Per Person

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been directed to revise the policy on subscriber identification module (SIM) card registration and usage.

The minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami, gave this directive in a statement signed by the minister’s technical assistant on information technology, Femi Adeluyi, 

According to Adeluyi, the updated policy are expected to include the following provisions:

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), while already registered SIM cards are to be updated with national identity number (NIN) before December 1, 2020.

Ensure that only fully accredited agents support the SIM card registration process without pre-registering SIM cards themselves, while the eventual registration should be done by the operators;

One of the provisions also states that;

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;

Clarifying the provisions, Pantami said the maximum number to be registered by a person will be determined by the NCC and stakeholders.

He added that;

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 ensure that SIM cards that have been used to perpetrate crimes are permanently deactivated.

Pantami also explained that the provision might not apply to companies.