Federal Government has released new guidelines for replacement of lost, stolen, misplaced, or damaged SIM cards using their National Identification Numbers (NINs).
In a joint statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ikechukwu Adinde; and Head, Corporate Communication, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Kayode Adegoke on Friday, it said subscribers must present their National Identification Numbers (NIN) for their SIM cards to be replaced.
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The statement added that the decision was taken by Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, after he considered the report by a technical committee “charged with the operationalisation of the process to ensure an expedited linkage of all SIM Registration Records with NIN”.
It added that NIMC will also verify NINs presented by subscribers before Mobile Network Operators replace such SIM cards.
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The statement partly reads;
The Federal Government’s drive to ensure all Subscriber registrations are linked with National Identification Numbers (NINs) is moving forward and all stakeholders in the industry are working together to ensure the process is carried out as seamlessly as possible.
Based on recommendations of the Technical Committee, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has approved a SIM Replacement Policy for subscribers whose SIMs have been lost, stolen, misplaced, or damaged subject to the following conditions:
i) That the subscriber present a NIN;
ii) That an effective verification of the NIN is carried out by NIMC; and
iii) That the relevant Guidelines and Regulations of NCC concerning SIM Replacement are fully adhered to.
This policy is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the burden on subscribers and simplify the exercise. It is aimed at enabling telecommunications service users who need to replace their damaged, stolen or misplaced SIMs to re-establish access to telecom services.
