…Thanks Nigerians For Their Understanding And Commitment On Success Of Exercise
By Angeline Mgbele, Correspondent Abuja
With strengthening of its national security architecture as cardinal focus, the push by the Nigerian Federal Government to ensure all Subscriber registrations are linked with National Identification Numbers (NINs) is gathering momentum and all stakeholders in the industry are working together to ensure the process is carried out as seamlessly as possible, a statement from two focal agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has said.
The communication jointly penned by the Director of Public Affairs(DPA) of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) and the Head, Corporate Communications at the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Kayode Adegoke, respectively says government appreciates and thanks Nigerians for their positive stance towards ensuring the overall success of this exercise.
To underscore its stoic political will, the Buhari administration instituted a Ministerial Task Force under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami who, in turn, set up a Technical Committee made up of representatives of:
* Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC);
* National Identity Management Commission (NIMC);
* The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); and
* Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
As per the statement, the Technical Committee is charged with the operationalization of the process to ensure an expedited linkage of all SIM Registration Records with NIN. Based on recommendations of the Technical Committee, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has approved a SIM Replacement Policy for subscribers whose SIMs have been lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged subject to the following conditions:
i) That the subscriber presents a NIN;
ii) That an effective verification of the NIN is carried out by NIMC; and
iii) That the relevant Guidelines and Regulations of NCC concerning SIM Replacement are fully adhered to.
“This policy is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the burden on subscribers and simplify the exercise. It is aimed at enabling telecommunications service users who need to replace their damaged, stolen or misplaced SIMs to re-establish access to telecom services,” the statement said.
