The federal government has given approval for Mobile Network Operators (MNO)s to establish dedicated SIM Swap Centres in all local government areas across Nigeria.
It also approved the extension of NIN Enrolment Licences tenure from one to five years in consideration of their satisfactory performance, subject to continuous monitoring.
A statement signed by the NIMC and NCC on Tuesday, listed them as part of the resolutions of the Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM registration when it held its fourth review meeting last Friday
The meeting was Chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM.
Key stakeholders joined the Honourable Minister at the meeting.
“They included the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
“Others included the NCC Executive Commissioners for Technical Services and Stakeholder Management, MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, EMTS (9Mobile), NTEL, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Glo,” the statement said.
The Technical Committee was mandated to complete the development of a new SIM issuance strategy and a Multi-Sectoral Adhoc Committee was tasked to immediately complete the review of the processes for new SIM activations, the statement added.
Furthermore, “MNOs that already have Service Centres in important and critical locations in LGAs, are expected to upgrade these Centres to a level where they can qualify as SIM Swap Centres in order to reduce the challenges associated with the SIM Swap/Replacement process for the citizens.”
The Minister also tasked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and MNOs, to come up with a framework for the establishment of SIM Swap/Replacement Centres in every local government area in the country.
“The EVC of NCC, Prof Danbatta, briefed the meeting on the outcome of the Senate Investigative Hearing on 5G Deployment in Nigeria, which took place on February 25, 2021. He extolled the Honourable Minister for making an eloquent presentation to dispel fears about the public health and security implications of 5G, as well as making a case for this new technology in the country. All stakeholders agreed on the need for the country to deploy 5G technology,” the statement added.
