The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has given conditions for the reactivation of all unregistered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards that were deactivated by the mobile network operators, MNO.
The industry regulator, in a statement issued yesterday, hinted that it will reactivate the SIM card of subscribers who registered their SIM cards properly by following specified guidelines.
According to the Commission, one of these is the physical presence of the subscriber at the approved centre of registration by the regulator and the MNO in order to capture clearly the face of the subscriber, personal data as well as biometric data. It stated that the clarification became necessary following the deluge of enquiries by affected subscribers.
The Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo stated that the fact a SIM card had been deactivated due to improper registration does not imply that the SIN card is withdrawn permanently as some may have alluded.
Ojobo explained further that the deactivation exercise and decision was a result of a meeting with the office of National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Service (DSS), the NCC and operators after which the operators were given one-week to deactivate those unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards.
“So the deactivation of these SIM cards is in line with that meeting. Subscribers who fail to register properly will have their lines deactivated but those who comply will have them reactivated.
“Proper registration means a subscriber’s facial pictures, properly captured, biometrics/ finger prints, valid means of identification, address, among others,” he explained.
He noted that the deactivation of the affected SIM cards were part of the security measures to check incessant cases of crimes with the use of the telephone.
“People hide under anonymity to commit crimes because their lines are not registered, but all that has to change as the network operators have been told what to do.”
“The ultimatum to deactivate unregistered SIM card expired on Tuesday this week. But enquires as to the status of the SIM cards necessitated this statement.
“The operators were told among others to ensure compliance of all registration with the Data Dictionary, Technical Specifications on finger prints and facial images and the business rules agreed by all stakeholders”.
