Pantami orders telecoms to block subscribers without linked National Identity Number within 2 weeks

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The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, has ordered all telecommunication service providers to ask all subscribers to provide their National Identification Numbers (NIN) within two weeks or risk losing their mobile account services. Failure by the service providers to comply with this directive would be met with sanction, which might include revocation of license.

This was disclosed after a meeting between the minister and stakeholders in the communication industry on Monday.

In a statement signed by the Nigerian Communication Commission’s (NCC) Director of Public affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde on Tuesday, it was stated that the decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators. The statement outlined the following as measures needing immediate implementation:

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

“The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (from Wednesday, December 16, 2020 and end by 30 December, 2020)”

“After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks”

“A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks.”

“Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license”

“The general public is hereby urged to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data.”

The minister, however, concluded that “all inconveniences which might be occasioned by this directive are deeply regretted.”

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