Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to embark on another audit of the Subscriber Registration Database again.
This was disclosed in a press release signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde NCC Director, Public Affairs.
According to the statement, the aim of the audit is to ensure that telcos comply with laid rules for SIM registration.
“The objective of the audit exercise is to verify and ensure compliance by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM Card Registration as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Commission.”
Despite the order, Adinde said in the statement that “where it is absolutely necessary, an exemption may be granted in writing by the Commission following approval from the Federal Government.”
For MNOs which do not obey the order, the release unequivocally states that severe sanctions will be imposed on defaulting operators including “the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.”
What this means is that telecom operators including MTN, 9Mobile, Airtel, and Glo, can no longer sell, register, and activate new SIM Cards until the audit exercise is concluded, and Government has conveyed the new direction.
