The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated that registration of SIM Cards before activation remains mandatory as it assists in easy identification of mobile telephone users and for the detection of crimes perpetrated by deviant users of mobile phones.

This came up once again at the 3rd Anuual Sensitization Workshop on the consequences of using pre-registered SIM cards that held at Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The programme was organised by NCC for the North Central zone.

Speaking at the event, Sunday Dare, the Commission’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management who was represented by Efosa Idehen, Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, NCC, told participants that “it is illegal to buy or use SIM cards that have been previously registered by a different, usually fictitious names and identities because this will make it difficult to trace users of such SIM cards when the cards are used for crimes. By implication, anyone who bought or sell SIM cards that have been pre-registered will be arrested and prosecuted by appropriate agencies of government.”

He added that “this explained why NCC issued directions to telecom operators to deactivate all illegal SIM cards and also instructed that any registered and activated MSISDN with no Revenue Generating Event (RGE) within 48 hours should automatically be returned to one way service. In essence a subscriber in that circumstance can only receive call on the SIM but will not be able to initiate a call.”

He noted that the directive to registration agents and citizens to register SIM cards only in “controlled environments” (within a permanent structure or facility), and traceable to a specific agent, is still in force.

He recalled that concerns about infractions connected to SIM cards was the reason NCC sanctioned some operators, arrested and prosecuted some registration agents, and confiscated both their equipment as well as the improperly activated SIM cards found with them.

•Photo shows, L-R; G.T Mohammed, Deputy Director Legal and Regulatory Services NCC; Efosa Idehen, Director Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement NCC; Salisu Abdu, Head Enforcement, NCC and Quasim Odunbaku, Principal Manager, Office of the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management NCC at the 3rd Annual Sensitization Workshop on the consequences of using pre-registered SIM cards.

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