Nigerians react to NIN SIM cards registration requirements by NCC

Oyogist.com had earlier reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its recent Directive has instructed all telecommunications companies to Register users sim card using National Identity Numbers, NIN.

A Statement released by the NCC reads;

”Following the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) convened an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the Communications industry on Monday, December 14, 2020.

“The meeting had in attendance the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as well as the CEOs and Management staff of all service providers in the industry.

“Following decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators: Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend registration of NEW SIMs by all operators.

“Operators to require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records”.

The statement read in parts.The Federal Government further gave the directive that the submission of NIN by subscribers should Commence (from today December 16, 2020 and end by 30 December, 2020), failure to do sowould lead to instant blocking of ALL SIMs without NINs.

Meanwhile several Nigerians have reacted to this directive, some pleading with the Network operators not to go ahead with the Federal Government instruction, while Others lamented that the Procedure of getting the NIN have been frustrating over the years.

A twitter User @Ayemojubar wrote;

“NCC gave telcos (MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile, etc) two weeks to block all SIM cards not registered with the National Identity Number, NIN.

“Who will loose revenue when over 80% of SIM cards are blocked? How many people in the village know what NIN is all about? Clueless Government”

Another user @kachirose opined;

“The question begging for an answer is, how many Nigerians have a National Identity Number”?

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