The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday gave telecoms companies operating in the country a seven-day ultimatum to deactivate pre-registered SIM cards or be sanctioned.
The NCC says pre-registered SIM cards can threaten the lives of citizens because they are used by criminals across all networks to commit acts of terrorism, kidnappings and robberies. The directive is part of the Nigerian government's efforts to tackle threats via telecommunications networks, and curb the danger they pose to the psyche of the citizenry and the country.
The announcement of the seven-day deadline was made after a meeting in Abuja between the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Service, network operators, and the NCC.
In South Arica, since 2011, all contract and prepaid cellphone numbers and data SIM cards have been required to be registered in accordance with the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, commonly known as RICA.
A statement by NCC director of public affairs, Tony Ojobo, indicates the unlawful Nigerian SIM cards in question are those without properly captured facial pictures and/or fingerprints.
Ojobo says affected subscribers are to be notified to "regularise their registrations" and from now on "all registrations must conform to the data dictionary, technical specifications on fingerprints and facial images, and the business rule agreed by all stakeholders".
He says sanctions for mobile operators will be in accordance with Nigeria's SIM registration regulations. Telcos were directed to inform subscribers using pre-registered SIMs to register their lines appropriately before the expiration of the deadline or face deactivation.
"The commission and all operators are to embark on vigorous public enlightenment on the need/desirability for subscribers to register their SIMs, as well as the dangers of selling/buying pre-registered SIMs."
The NCC says an earlier grace period of 21 days given by the commission has lapsed and operators will be held liable for cases of pre-registered SIMs once the seven day deadline is up.
Multiple SIMs will be allowed in Nigeria and the announcement did not set a cap for the number of SIMs individual or corporate subscribers are allowed to register. However, the NCC says unusually high numbers of registration by an individual should be flagged and reported to the commission.
The NCC says to date, more than 120 million SIM cards have been registered and the data transmitted to the central database by operators.
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