Following the Recent suspention of new SIM cards sales, registrations and activation in Nigeria by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) as Directed by The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. Many Nigerians are yet to know why this order was passed.
Alot are already having a negative thought about the order but there’s no bad news about the directives given to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and new rules implemented on SIM cards registrations.
As stated by the Minister, the objective for the suspension of the new SIM cards registration/activation was to allow an audit of the subscriber Registration Database. This is the major aim why SIM card registrations stops by MNOs in the country.
That’s to say that new subscribers are not to be included in the audition process of the Database this time.
Accordingly, the audit was to verify and ensure compliance by Mobile Network Operators with set quality standards and requirements as issued by the Ministry and the commission.
The minister explained that the order was in line with the Federal government’s desire to consolidate the achievement of September 2019 SIM card registration.
In September 2019, more than 9million SIM cards that were unregistered were disconnected by network operators in Nigeria. achieved through database auditing.
As for the new rule implemented on SIM card registration drown from the Metting lead by the Minister and other key stakeholders in the communication industry which was held on December 14, 2020 resolved that,
current subscribers from all network operators are to submit their National Identification Number (NIN) to update their SIM registration record in order to avoid being blocked after December 30, 2020.
However, The Mobile Network Operators ( MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile) shall communicate to their respective customers on how to submit their NINs for Registration update.
You can check out the various methods on how to link your NIN to mobile number here
