Business
NCC orders MTN, Airtel, others to block SIMs without NIN
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has renewed its instruction to telecom operators to prohibit telephone subscribers who are not linked to their national identification numbers on or before February 28, 2024.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the National Communication Commission, addressed the NCC’s Special Day at the 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair on Wednesday.
Maida, who was represented by Mr. Reuben Mouka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, requested that telecom subscribers link their NIN to their SIM card for important national security reasons.
He emphasized that the deadline of February 28th for telecom carriers to prohibit subscribers who failed to link their NIN to their SIM remains in effect.
“To this end, the National Communication Commission has directed all telecommunication operators to bar the phone lines of subscribers whose lines are not linked to their NINs on or before February 28, 2024,” he added.
According to the executive vice chairman, the theme was appropriate because it aligned with the commission’s ideals and aims to foster local content creation in the telecom industry.
Maida further stated that the NCC was devoted to protecting customers’ rights while ensuring their satisfaction and that the commission has created a globally acceptable environment for accessing “affordable and equitable service and supports the nation’s economic growth.”
“As a regulator of the telecommunications sector in the country, the Commission carries out its functions to ensure service availability, affordability, and sustainability for all categories of consumers who are leveraging on ICT and telecoms to drive personal and business activities,” he said.
He elucidated that by “working together, we can create a more vibrant telecommunications industry that contributes significantly to economic recovery and growth.”
According to him, the telecoms business contributed 13.5% of the nation’s GDP in 2023 (source: Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report November 2023, a National Bureau of Statistics publication).
“Conversely, as we promote economic growth through the development of local content, we must also address the challenges faced by consumers, and NCC is committed to protecting their rights while ensuring their satisfaction.
The NCC chairman urged telecom companies to prioritize customer happiness and maintain the highest standards of service delivery, stressing that the commission has taken steps to protect the interests of both consumers and businesses.
One such move, he added, was the NCC’s directive on May 17, 2023, that all licensed mobile network operators begin using authorized harmonized shortcodes to provide services to Nigerian telecom users.
“The new initiative is enabling consumers using the over 224 million active mobile telephone lines in Nigeria to use the same codes to access services across all networks,” he added.
Furthermore, the NCC chairman said that the telecoms industry’s contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2023 was 13.5%, according to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report November 2023, a publication of the National Bureau of Statistics.
