NCC issues seven-day ultimatum to service providers

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday handed down a seven-day ultimatum to Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and other network providers to deactivate all pre-registered Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) cards or face sanctions.

It was gathered the development was to step up security across the nation, especially the fight against insurgency.

A statement by the Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the ultimatum was the fallout of a meeting between Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Department of State Service (DSS), the network operators and the NCC.

Ojobo said the meeting took into cognizance crimes committed against members of the public by kidnappers, terrorists, robbers and threats to lives through the use of such unregistered SIM cards across all the networks.

The statement noted that operators were however told to notify such subscribers before deactivation of their SIM cards.

It reads: “Seven days’ notice is hereby given for deactivation of all invalid/improperly registered SIM cards; these include all SIM cards without or improperly captured facial pictures and or finger – prints.

“Henceforth, all registrations must conform to the Data Dictionary, Technical Specifications on finger prints and facial images and the business rule agreed by all stakeholders.

Read also: Guidelines for online sim swap out

“All registration records must be validated before sending to the Commission; thus eliminating all invalid records that does not conform new registrations and indicate same in the monthly reports sent to Commission.

“It was also resolved that operators will be held liable for cases for cases of pre-registered SIMs.

“Sanctions for default will apply in accordance with the SIM registration regulations.”

On multiple registrations, the NCC said: “The regulation did not set a cap for number of SIMs to be registered by individual or corporate subscribers.

“However, operators must ensure ALL registrations valid and in accordance with the documents and specifications stated in 1 (a).

“Unusually high number of registration by an individual should be flagged and reported to the commission.

“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.”

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