- Says Customers Can Replace Their SIM Upon NIN Verification
By Olatunde R. Omisola
Telecommunications subscribers in the national network now have an opportunity to replace their subscriber identification module(SIM) cards upon verification of their national identification numbers (NIN) by their respective mobile network operators. This head-up is contained in a press statement coming from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria(ALTON). The statement was signed on behalf of ALTON by its Chairman and Publicity Secretary, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Damian Udeh, respectively.
ALTON said it noted the challenges experienced by customers seeking to replace or upgrade their SIM cards following the suspension of sale and activation of SIM cards by the government which also affected SIM replacement, adding it empathized with people who had been unable to reactivate their phone lines as a result of the suspension.
ALTON’s sustained engagements with government on the matterled to the temporary reprieve coming the way of subscribers and its member companies are currently working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure seamless system connectivity for verification of NINs.
“We, therefore, seek the continued patience and understanding of our esteemed subscribers as we work with all stakeholders towards speedily resolution of issues affecting SIM Registration/Swap and activation. We assure you of restoring normal services in a seamless and effective manner as soon as possible,” ALTON said.
The need to synchronise SIMs with NINs arose as the Federal Government looks for ingenious ways to reduce crimes and criminalities aided and abetted with information and communication technology devices, that has seen an upward swing.
On its part, industry regulator, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), is currently working with mobile network operators (MNOs) and other agencies, including NIMC, in line with Federal Government’s Directive, through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, for telecoms subscribers to link their NINs with the SIM database with a view to addressing SIM-related crimes.
Through its spirited regulatory efforts, the Commission strived to remove improperly-registered SIMs from the networks and a number of arrests and convictions of fraudulently-registered SIM registration by ‘operators agents’ were also made to serve as deterrent to others who may be engaging in improperly-registered SIM cards, which is a criminal offence in the country and a threat to national security.
The Commission also sensitized the consumers on this menace and encouraged them to stop the sale, purchase and use of pre-registered SIM cards as it constitutes a punishable offence under the law.
According to NCC, the use of pre-registered SIM cards gives cover for unwholesome activities like kidnapping, call masking, threat to lives, bullying, armed robbery, identity theft financial crimes and SIM swap fraud, among others. Closely related to this was the massive cybercrime sensitization that the Commission embarked on since the beginning of the year, culminating in a more widespread social media campaign in the month of October, with greater emphasis by the Commission on child online protection, considering the fact that most children now take Internet-based learning and educational instructions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restrictions and the need to protect them online was taken as a priority for the Commission.
