Nigeria's federal government has listed fresh conditions for telecommunication service subscribers to replace lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged SIM cards.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, subscribers must present their National Identification Numbers for their SIM cards to be replaced, after which the National Identity Management Commission will verify the presented National Identification Numbers before Mobile Network Operators can replace such SIM cards.
Likewise, Telcos are obliged to obey other SIM replacement guidelines, according to a statement that Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Ikechukwu Adinde; and Head, Corporate Communication, NIMC, Kayode Adegoke jointly signed on Friday.
The statement says that Nigeria's Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami took the decision in response to a technical committee report.
The committee comprised the NCC, NIMC, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, and Mobile Network Operators.
Based on recommendations of the Technical Committee, Isa Pantami approved the new SIM Replacement Policy for subscribers whose SIMs have been lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged subject to the following conditions:
- That the subscriber present a NIN;
- That an effective verification of the NIN is carried out by NIMC; and
- That the relevant Guidelines and Regulations of NCC concerning SIM Replacement are fully adhered to.
Inclusion Times had earlier reported that the Federal Government through the NCC ordered telecommunications companies to deactivate telephone lines of subscribers who failed to link their phones to their National Identity Number.