NCC says no infractions, no sanctions over poorly registered 9.2m lines
Says penalty awaits operators’ non-compliance after Sep. 25th
THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICA TIONS COMMIS SION (NCC), says there were “no infractions” hence “no sanctions” necessary for now over the recently discovered 9.2 million improperly registered subscriber’ identity module (SIM) cards on the networks of mobile number operators in the country.
Henry Nkemadu, director, Public Affairs Department of the regulatory agency, made this known to business a.m. during a telephone conversation when contacted for comments on the status of the issue.
According to him, «the operators have been directed to remedy the improperly registered SIM cards, and they were already doing that.
«No infraction is involved yet, and sanctions are not applicable yet. It is when the operators refuse to do what we say; that is when there will be problem. In regulation, if you ask somebody to do something and he is doing it, are you going to punish him for doing that? No!
«All the lines are registered. They are only invalid because of some details that are wrong with them and the operators have been asked to correct them,» Nkemadu said.
The 9.2 million lines were discovered to be poorly registered on the networks of mobile operators such as MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9Mobile, following an assessment carried out by the Nigeria’s telecoms industry umpire, the NCC.
Upon reporting the situation to the Ministry of Communications Technology, the minister, Ali Pantami, on Friday 13th of September, ordered that lines be disconnected immediately.
He stated this in a statement signed by his spokesperson Uwa Suleiman, explaining that the 9.2 million affected lines be denied access to telecommunication services across the country as they did not meet the proper registration standards.
The statement read: «The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has submitted its baseline short-term performance targets report. The report signed by the executive vice-chairman of the commission contained precise figures of improperly registered SIM cards in use around the country.
«The commission in its report disclosed that an estimated nine million two hundred thousand SIM cards did not comply with the proper procedures of SIM registration.»
So, to ensure maximum compliance, the minister directed NCC to ensure all mobile network
operators block all SIM cards that do not meet proper registration standards until users comply with proper registration procedures.
6.75m lines affected lines rectifiedt
Five days after the disconnection order was given, NCC’ situation report to the ministry showed on the matter that 6.75 million out of the affected 9.2 million poorly registered SIM cards have been rectified by the operators.
This brought the number of the affected telephone lines down to 2.42 million which the telecoms operators must rectify to complete the task given to them by their regulator.
When contacted, sources within the MNOs said they had not received any instruction from the regulator, NCC, to disconnect affected line yet, but to rectify them.
They said efforts were on top gear to address the situation on time, by sending messages to subscribers to know the status of their SIM and remedy the situation until they have no lines either preregistered or poorly registered still running on their networks.
Authorities threaten sanction after September 25th Deadline
Meanwhile, Isa Pantami, has given operators till September 25th of this year to regularise all improperly registered mobile lines in the country.
Speaking recently at the inauguration of the new board members of the NCC in Abuja, the minister warned that at the deadline, there should be no single irregular telephone line, adding that the remaining 2.42 million lines still found wanting, must be regularised on or before the expiration of the ultimatum.
Pantami noted that inquiries revealed that 99 per cent of criminal acts committed nationwide were being carried out via SIM cards.
«Before you think of any economic benefit, the constitutional responsibility of the executive is the protection of lives and property of Nigerians. So, the life of one Nigerian is more important than any economic benefit the government can get.
«When I heard that we have 9.2 million Nigerians with incomplete or improperly registered SIM cards, I found the statistics alarming and worrisome because investigations revealed that 99 per cent of crimes being committed in Nigeria was done through SIM cards,» Pantami stated.
The minister also noted that NCC had briefed him on the 200 access gaps in the country where almost 40 million Nigerians do not currently have access to telecommunication services and which, he said, must be addressed.
“We would have succeeded in doubling the sector’s GDP contribution if we work together to close about 80 per cent of this 200 access gaps. As part of measure to achieve this, the NCC has told us about its plan to have access points in all the 774 local government areas in the country and as a ministry, we won’t hesitate to give you necessary support in this regard,” Pantami said.