NCC Gives MTN, Glo, Airtel, Others 2-Weeks Ultimatum To Block SIM Cards Without NIN

Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have been issued an ultimatum of two weeks to shut out all Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards that are not linked with the National Identity Numbers (NIN).

The Nigerian Communications Commission threatened to withdraw the license of any telecom company that shunned its directives.

Naija News understands that the directives were contained in a statement on Tuesday, December 15 by the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde.

Adinde noted in the statement that “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 development is coming a week after NCC directed all telecommunications companies to suspend the registration of new landlines across the federation.

The statement said the commission issued the directive in line with the federal government’s policy of reviewing the registry of registrants and ensuring that companies comply with the rules and regulation, Naija News reports.