The Federal Government has directed all network operators in the country to disconnect every SIM card not synchronised with valid National Identification Number (NIN) by December 30.
This follows an earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators.
The decision was reached during a meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry convened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ibrahim on Monday.
The meeting in its resolution insisted that all telecom operators must from Thursday, December 16, 2020 require all their subscribers to provide valid NIN to update SIM registration records.
Consequently, part of the resolutions reached at the meeting is that the submission of NIN by subscribers should take place within two weeks (from December 16 to December 30).
Other decisions taken for immediate implementation by all network operators include affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend registration of new SIMs by all operators; operators to require all their subscribers to provide valid NIN to update SIM registration records and after the deadline, all SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks.
Also, the meeting ended with the setting up of a ministerial task force comprising the minister and all the CEOs among others as members to monitor compliance by all networks.
According to them, violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.
They, however, urged the general public to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data and apologized for all inconveniences which might be occasioned by this directive.
The meeting had in attendance the CEOs and management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as well as CEOs and management staff of all service providers in the industry.
