Nigeria says telecoms firms can resume new SIM card sales

© Reuters.

ABUJA, April 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria has given the green
light to telecoms firm operating in the country to resume
selling new SIM cards from Monday, four months after it
suspended them to check compliance with registration rules, the
government said.
Nigeria's communications ministry said the sale of new SIM
cards can resume as long as telecommunications firms, including
giants such as Airtel AAF.L AIRTELAFRI.LG and MTN MTNN.LG ,
link them with identity registration numbers.
The new policy will commence on Monday, the government said
in a statement.
In December, the communications regulator directed all
telecommunications firms to stop selling SIM cards while it
audited their compliance with registration
requirements. Investors watch telecoms subscriber numbers closely and use
them to estimate average revenue per user (ARPU), a key metrics
for measuring profitability. South Africa's MTN MTNJ.J has the
highest number of subscribers in Nigeria.
Nigeria created SIM card registration rules in an attempt to
stop terrorists and criminals from using unregistered SIM cards.
Rising insecurity has plagued the country in recent months;
earlier on Tuesday, suspected Islamists attacked the northeast
Nigerian border town of Damasak, killing at least eight people
and causing hundreds to flee to neighbouring Niger.
Other Nigerian carriers affected by the announcement include
9mobile and Globacom Ltd.
The government has also directed mobile phone companies to
add valid identification numbers to every SIM card registered in
the country. Unregistered SIM cards will be
blocked.