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Nigeria orders companies to stop selling, registering SIM cards -statement

Published 10/12/2020, 13:36
Updated 10/12/2020, 13:42
© Reuters.

LAGOS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Nigeria has directed all
telecommunications firms, including giants such as Airtel and
MTN, to stop selling SIM cards while it audits rule compliance,
according to a statement from the Nigeria Communications
Commission.
The statement did not indicate how long the audit would take
but said the NCC could grant exemptions "where it is absolutely
necessary."
"Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are hereby directed to
immediately suspend the sale, registration and activation of new
SIM Cards until the audit exercise is concluded, and government
has conveyed the new direction," the statement said.
It said the audit would check whether companies were
complying with SIM card registration rules.
Nigeria created the SIM card registration rules in an
attempt to stop terrorists and criminals from using unregistered
SIM cards.
Other Nigerian carriers affected by the announcement include
9Mobile and Globacom Ltd.
MTN said it stopped the sale, registration and activation of
SIM cards as directed. "We regret the inconvenience this will
cause some of our customers and are committed to working with
the NCC to complete the planned audit in an efficient and
seamless manner".
Airtel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In 2015, the communications regulator handed MTN Nigeria a
1.04 trillion naira fine for failing to disconnect unregistered
SIM cards, but MTN negotiated a reduced fine to clear its path
to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.



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