This is coming as the telecom regulator as part of its routine enforcement activities to sanitise the industry of criminal elements, arrested no fewer than five suspected individuals for allegedly engaging in fraudulently registering and selling Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

The arrest was carried out by the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department of the Commission, in company with the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the Wuse area of Abuja.

While disclosing the arrest to newsmen, NCC’s Head of Enforcement, Salisu Abdu warned those engaged in unlawful registration of SIM cards to desist from the illegal act, noting that the Commission will continue to collaborate with relevant law enforcement agencies to rid the industry of individuals, who have resolved to contravene SIM registration regulations.

“It is criminal and fraudulent to pre-register a SIM card in Nigeria and it is an offense punishable under the law. Though the Federal Government recently lifted the ban on sale of new SIM cards, it should be noted that proper registration of SIM cards and linking them to National Identity Number (NIN) before activation has now become a prerequisite,” he said.

The arrested suspects were subsequently handed over to the NSCDC Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Wuse, Abuja for further investigation with respect to the allegations leveled against them.