No Approval Yet To Resume New Sim Registration — Network Providers

Network providers across the different telecommunications
networks in Lagos State say they have yet to receive approval to
resume registration of new SIM cards.

The Federal Government had suspended the registration of new SIM
cards in December 2020 and lifted the ban with effect from April
19.

But a visit by the News Agency of Nigeria to the customer
service outlets of some telecom companies on Friday showed that no
SIM card registration was being done, as most subscribers who
requested for new SIM cards were turned down.

Some workers at different network stores in some parts of
Surulere and Lagos Island, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said they had yet to get approval from the Nigerian Communications
Commission to roll out sale of new SIM cards.

The employee said, “We are aware of them lifting the ban on new
SIM cards but we have not been given the official greenlight to go
ahead. We still await instructions from the authorities on that
issue and that is what we tell our subscribers when they request
for it.

“We want to follow due process so that we are not held
responsible for any SIM card sales, hence we only retrieve old SIM
cards that were lost with proof of ownership and, of course, the
NIN identification.”

Some of the subscribers, who spoke to NAN at the various
locations, stated that they needed new SIM cards for their wards,
businesses and other needs.

According to a trader, Mr Isaac Benson, it was a welcome
development when it was announced that SIM registration was
restored. He added that he needed a new SIM card for his new
business centre.

He said, “I still don’t understand why we have yet to register
our new SIM cards. I just floated a new business centre here in
Surulere and I needed to get lines to attach to the centre, only to
be informed that registration had yet to start.

“I hope the government will quickly give the network providers
the permission to start the reissuing of new SIM cards to avoid
delays in our various businesses.”

Ronke Thompson was also turned down for requesting a new SIM
card for her new phone.

“I just turned 18 and I was given a new phone by my brother. I
need a new SIM card for myself but my preferred network said no to
SIM card sales yet. I just want to have my own line to reach out to
my friends and for my privacy,” Thompson said.

A food vendor, Temitope Yusuf, also lamented that her business
needed new lines to aid her business for customers to make orders
and bookings.

“Right now, I need about two more lines for my staff members to
receive orders and bookings for food from customers, but we have
one line which is really making business slow. I sincerely beg that
new SIM cards should be rolled out to help us,” Yusuf said.

Ronke Thompson was also turned down for requesting a new SIM
card for her new phone.

“I just turned 18 and I was given a new phone by my brother. I
need a new SIM card for myself but my preferred network said no to
SIM card sales yet. I just want to have my own line to reach out to
my friends and for my privacy,” Thompson said.

A food vendor, Temitope Yusuf, also lamented that her business
needed new lines to aid her business for customers to make orders
and bookings.

“Right now, I need about two more lines for my staff members to
receive orders and bookings for food from customers, but we have
one line which is really making business slow. I sincerely beg that
new SIM cards should be rolled out to help us,” Yusuf said.

NAN reports that the NCC, on Thursday, arrested no fewer than
five suspects for allegedly engaging in fraudulent registering and
sale of SIM cards.

The arrest was made during the commission’s routine enforcement
operations in Abuja.

The Head of the NCC enforcement operations, Salish Abdu, said
the exercise was part of routine activities embarked upon by the
commission to rid the industry of criminal elements engaging in
fraudulent registration of SIM cards.

Abdu warned those engaged in the unlawful registration of SIM
cards to desist from the illegal act, noting that the commission
would continue to deal with perpetrators.

He said the enforcement would continue in other parts of the
country.

Network providers across the different telecommunications
networks in Lagos State say they have yet to receive approval to
resume registration of new SIM cards.

The Federal Government had suspended the registration of new SIM
cards in December 2020 and lifted the ban with effect from April
19.

But a visit by the News Agency of Nigeria to the customer
service outlets of some telecom companies on Friday showed that no
SIM card registration was being done, as most subscribers who
requested for new SIM cards were turned down.

Some workers at different network stores in some parts of
Surulere and Lagos Island, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
said they had yet to get approval from the Nigerian Communications
Commission to roll out sale of new SIM cards.

The employee said, “We are aware of them lifting the ban on new
SIM cards but we have not been given the official greenlight to go
ahead. We still await instructions from the authorities on that
issue and that is what we tell our subscribers when they request
for it.

“We want to follow due process so that we are not held
responsible for any SIM card sales, hence we only retrieve old SIM
cards that were lost with proof of ownership and, of course, the
NIN identification.”

Some of the subscribers, who spoke to NAN at the various
locations, stated that they needed new SIM cards for their wards,
businesses and other needs.

According to a trader, Mr Isaac Benson, it was a welcome
development when it was announced that SIM registration was
restored. He added that he needed a new SIM card for his new
business centre.

He said, “I still don’t understand why we have yet to register
our new SIM cards. I just floated a new business centre here in
Surulere and I needed to get lines to attach to the centre, only to
be informed that registration had yet to start.

“I hope the government will quickly give the network providers
the permission to start the reissuing of new SIM cards to avoid
delays in our various businesses.”

Ronke Thompson was also turned down for requesting a new SIM
card for her new phone.

“I just turned 18 and I was given a new phone by my brother. I
need a new SIM card for myself but my preferred network said no to
SIM card sales yet. I just want to have my own line to reach out to
my friends and for my privacy,” Thompson said.

A food vendor, Temitope Yusuf, also lamented that her business
needed new lines to aid her business for customers to make orders
and bookings.

“Right now, I need about two more lines for my staff members to
receive orders and bookings for food from customers, but we have
one line which is really making business slow. I sincerely beg that
new SIM cards should be rolled out to help us,” Yusuf said.

Ronke Thompson was also turned down for requesting a new SIM
card for her new phone.

“I just turned 18 and I was given a new phone by my brother. I
need a new SIM card for myself but my preferred network said no to
SIM card sales yet. I just want to have my own line to reach out to
my friends and for my privacy,” Thompson said.

A food vendor, Temitope Yusuf, also lamented that her business
needed new lines to aid her business for customers to make orders
and bookings.

“Right now, I need about two more lines for my staff members to
receive orders and bookings for food from customers, but we have
one line which is really making business slow. I sincerely beg that
new SIM cards should be rolled out to help us,” Yusuf said.

NAN reports that the NCC, on Thursday, arrested no fewer than
five suspects for allegedly engaging in fraudulent registering and
sale of SIM cards.

The arrest was made during the commission’s routine enforcement
operations in Abuja.

The Head of the NCC enforcement operations, Salish Abdu, said
the exercise was part of routine activities embarked upon by the
commission to rid the industry of criminal elements engaging in
fraudulent registration of SIM cards.

Abdu warned those engaged in the unlawful registration of SIM
cards to desist from the illegal act, noting that the commission
would continue to deal with perpetrators.

He said the enforcement would continue in other parts of the
country.