BY DAYO ADESULU
The Nigerian Communications Commission has halted the continuous sales of SIM cards and registration of new SIM subscribers of any network provider in Nigeria.
The commission on Wednesday directed all Mobile Network Operators to immediately suspend the sale and activation of new SIM cards.
According to NCC, the suspension of new SIM registration would allow the commission to the audit of the Subscriber Registration Database. He explained the audit would help to consolidate the achievement of the SIM Card registration exercise.
Adinde added that the objective of the audit exercise was to ensure compliance to set quality standards and requirements by mobile network operators.
Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC on Wednesday in a statement said it was absolutely necessary for operators to comply until the audit exercise had been concluded.
He explained that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, directed the commission to embark on an audit of the Subscriber Registration Database.
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He pointed out that while the exercise is ongoing, an exemption might be granted following approval from the Federal Government through the commission.
Adinde who urged the service providers to strictly comply with the directive warned that non-compliance with the directive would be met with strict sanctions.
Such sanctions, according to him might include the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.
