NCC Sets Up 12-man Taskforce to Curb Improper SIM Card Registration

Disturbed by the imminent dangers of rising incidences of improperly registered, unregistered and pre-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that the situation, if left uncontrolled, could cause serious security breach in the country. The Commission therefore said it would no longer tolerate any telecoms operator that still accommodates improperly registered and pre-registered SIM cards on their networks.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta gave the charge recently in Abuja, after a high powered meeting with all the telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria.

The meeting, it was gathered, was the highpoint of several meetings initiated by the Commission in the last two years with a view to finding solutions to the recurrent dangers of the improperly registered SIM Cards in the country. NCC had in October 2015, fined MTN a whopping N1.04 trillion for its refusal to deactivate 5.2 million improperly and unregistered SIM cards on its network, despite several warnings. According to NCC, each infraction attracted N200,000 fine and MTN had 5.2 million infractions from 5.2 million improperly registered and unregistered SIM cards on its network, which amounted to N1.04 trillion.

Although the fine was later reduced by 25 per cent, which brought it to N780 billion after much plea bargain from MTN, the telecoms company is still paying the fine that was spread across three years for easy payment.

Danbatta however expressed the fears especially in reference to security reports from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the fear of non compliance to the Telephone Subscribers Registration Regulation 2011, by the telcos. He warned that the current situation would no longer be business as usual.

“We must safeguard lives and property of Nigerians who travel by road especially now and the festive seasons and others who may be threatened or blackmailed via unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards.”