Exclusive: Suspension of SIM activation was difficult decision says Danbatta – ITREALMS

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The decision to suspend the activation of Subscribers Identification Modules (SIMs) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been described as a difficult one, reports ITREALMS. 

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, ITREALMS gathered made this disclosure, weekend in a virtual keynote address to the 3rd Discourse Series of the Advocaat Law Practice, entitled "Powering Fourth Industrial Revolution in Nigeria."

“We had to take the difficult decision of suspending the activation of all new SIMs and to mandate all citizens to link their SIMs to their unique National Identification Numbers (NINs),” he declared.

Danbatta recalled on the issue of citizens’ identification and digital identity is something Nigerians agreed, is critical to the nation’s digital emergence and future growth.

As said by him, its in this bid that the Federal Government articulated a policy that all Nigerians must possess a unique National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Additionally, Danbatta noted that the NIN must be linked with all identity databases, particularly the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration database.

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So, in order to achieve this, he said, the Commission took the difficult decision of suspending the activation of all new SIMs, whereas directing all citizens to link their SIMs with their NINs.

“I am pleased to note that we have achieved very significant success in the articulation of a template for the activation of new SIMs linked with authenticated NINs, and that the activation of new SIMs will now be carried out across the country in earnest,” he assured.

Remmy Nweke/DoP