FG Lifts Ban On SIM Replacement

The Federal Government has lifted the earlier suspension order on replacement and activation of old Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs at NCC, on Thursday.

According to the NCC, the lifting of the ban was on the condition that the owner of the SIM card must have enrolled and obtained the National Identification Number (NIN).

The Federal Government had on 9 December announced the suspension of the sale and activation of new SIM cards across networks.

The suspension order, according to Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, was expected to last till the completion of the audit of the Subscriber Registration Database, which seeks to achieve global standards and quality in the issuance of SIM Cards.

Following the NCC’s directive, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in a statement urged Nigerians wanting to replace or activate their SIM cards to do so.

The statement read: “Further to engagements with the government on the matter, we are pleased to report that our members have been granted permission to carry out SIM replacement upon verification of the customer’s NIN.

“In this regard, our members are working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure seamless system connectivity for verification of NINs.

In this regard, our members are working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure seamless system connectivity for verification of NINs.

“We note the challenges experienced by customers seeking to replace or upgrade their SIM cards following the suspension of sale and activation of SIM cards by the government which also affected SIM replacement.

“We empathise with people who have been unable to reactivate their phone lines as a result of the suspension. We, therefore, seek the continued patience and understanding of our esteemed subscribers as we work with all stakeholders towards a speedy resolution of issues affecting SIM Registration/Swap and activation. We assure you of restoring normal services in a seamless and effective manner as soon as possible.”