Dangers of unregistered SIM cards are real, NCC warns

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set up a 12-man committee to look into the issue of unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards.

Tony Ojobo, NCC spokesman, who disclosed this in a statement, said Umar Danbatta, vice chairman of NCC, inaugurated the committee at a meeting with telecommunications companies (telcos) operating in the country.

TheCable had reported that the commission summoned telco CEOs to its headquarters in Abuja.

NCC took this step as a result of several complaints about pre-registered and fraudulently registered SIM cards being used for acts amounting to breach of security, criminality and fraud.

In the statement by the commission, Ojobo said NCC had organised several meetings in the last two years, with a view to finding solutions to the recurrent dangers of improperly registered SIM cards.

He reportedly told telecom operators that the dangers of unregistered SIM cards were real.

“We must safeguard lives and properties of Nigerians who travel by road especially now and the festive seasons and others who may be threatened or blackmailed via unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards,” Danbatta was quoted to have said.

“Today’s meeting has the backing of the government which desires solutions as quickly as possible.”

According to the terms of reference (ToR) for the committee, operators must put in place a robust and active backend to check cases of improperly registered SIM cards before activation.

“The taskforce would also look at the sources of these improperly and pre-registered SIM cards by asking operators to look inwards to forestall insiders abuse,” the statement read.

“Processes are regularly fine-tuned to establish the integrity of data captured. Clear up the systems regularly to wipe off an segregate between real and fake data.

“The taskforce is also to re-examine the 2015 agreement the commission had with telcos with a view to harmonising that and add new solutions.

“To put in place proactive measures to nip criminals activities in the bud, beating them in their own game.

“Suggest preventive measures for the telcos to beef up the integrity of their registering processes.”

The taskforce has been asked to submit its report in six weeks.