NCC chairman joins SIM card campaign

The chairman, Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Peter Igoh, has joined the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card registration campaign, saying that the exercise is a civic responsibility.

ITRealms Online recalls that NCC’s SIM card registration is expected to end by September 28, this year.

Leading NCC team to Harvest FM in Markurdi, Benue State capital, at the weekend, Mr. Igoh said in a phone-in special segment urged all subscribers in Benue State, and indeed the country, to ensure that their SIM cards are registered before the deadline.

He outlined some of the merits of SIM card registration to include assisting security agencies to fight crimes for the benefit of the lives and properties of Nigerians, and to ensure a robust and secure citizen data for the country as the Commission is currently working together with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to manage this critical information.

He also revealed that the centres housing the NCC SIM registration agents in Benue State, including ones which he personally visited and urged the citizens to come out to do their civic responsibilities.

Igoh said the reason why the Commission appointed SIM registration agents was to ensure that citizens in the interior areas of the country, including localities in Benue State, are not denied the opportunity offered by the registration as the agents are equipped to travel to all the nooks and crannies of the country.

The NCC chairman further took the campaign to the Benue State University, Markudi, where the Commission hosted subscribers to the bimonthly Consumer Outreach Programme (COP).

“Today, we are looking at the issue of SIM card registration which is currently going on across the nation. The exercise offers a lot of benefits to the consumers as it will bring in more security, provide a reputable databank of telephone users for the country and curb criminal activities among many other benefits,” he said.

Igoh reiterated that at the previous outings of this COP event, a number of issues that are of tremendous benefits to the consumers have been discussed with a view to informing and empowering consumers as to make them make informed decisions about the services being offered by their service providers.

Some of these, he said, comprised of Internet service delivery, interconnection rates, customer care services, accessibility to the helplines of service provider, number portability, promotional activities of the service providers were discussed, amongst others.

Mr. Igoh said it is the importance which the Commission attaches to the ongoing SIM registration that prompted the focus on it in the current SIM registration programme.

Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management of the NCC, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi who was represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Mary Uduma, reiterated that the ongoing SIM Card registration is mandatory for all telephone subscribers.

He said Consumers have the option to register their individual SIM Cards with their respective Service Providers, or register all their SIM Cards at once with the NCC, however, double registration is not allowed.

“On a strong note, I wish to urge all Consumers to avoid buying pre-registered SIM Cards and protect their registered telephone lines as they will be fully held responsible for all calls that originate from their SIM Cards”, he said.

Mr. Itanyi also drew the of phone users attention to the fact that SIM card registration is free, advising subscribers to report anyone asking them to pay money for the registration and that they can report such incident to NCC toll free numbers, 0800 2255 622 or to the nearest police station.

Remmy Nweke
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