Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission on Tuesday unveiled a new regulation that toughens the process of replacing faulty, damaged, stolen or lost Subscriber Identification Module cards.
One of the highlights of the new regulation known as ‘Guidelines on SIM replacement in Nigeria’ is the outright ruling out of SIM card swap by telephone.
Any SIM to be replaced must have been registered in accordance with the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation 2011.
Also, any subscriber wishing to replace a SIM card must be present in person or authorise a proxy with a letter of authority. An exception to this is made for those replacing their SIM cards through a secured online portal.
In addition, a subscriber must present a valid photo identification such as driver’s licence, national identification card, voter’s card or an identification letter from a traditional ruler/religious leader.
A subscriber is also required to present the SIM pack or other evidence of direct purchase/ownership of the SIM card in question, and where that is not available, an affidavit attesting to the ownership and loss of the SIM must be provided.
The Head of Legal Services, NCC, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, said the tough process had become necessary in order to stop fraudulent swapping of SIM cards by people who were not authorised to do so by genuine subscribers.
She said, “The guidelines are principally intended to prescribe a standard procedure for SIM replacement to be used by network service providers. The guidelines shall apply to all network service providers and to all subscribers, including post-paid and prepaid subscribers.”
Meanwhile, the NCC has increased most fines payable by telecommunications operators in order to deter them from repeated contravention of regulations.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said this at a public inquiry on the Enforcement Processes (Amended) Regulations in Abuja on Tuesday.
Juwah said the current fines were not big enough to deter some operators from infringing on regulations since they could easily pay such finees
Source : punch
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