Okays extension of ENROLLMENT Licence Tenure
Admin l Wednesday, March 03, 2021
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM registration has given approval to Mobile Network Operators(MNOs) to set up dedicated SIM Swap Centres across all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria. The Task Force gave the approval during its 4th Review Meeting on Friday, February 26, 2021 under the chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The Minister also tasked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to work with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and MNOs, to come up with a framework for the establishment of SIM Swap/Replacement Centres in each of the 774 LGAs in the country, beginning with critical and feasible locations.
The Task Force also approved the extension of the tenure of NIN Enrolment Agent Licenses for MNOs from 1 to 5 years in consideration of their satisfactory performance, subject to continuous monitoring.
“This is a deliberate effort of the Federal Government to simplify the enrolment process for Nigerians and legal residents”, the Task Force said in a joint statement signed by Director Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Head Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission, Mr Kayode Adegoke .
The Technical Committee was mandated to complete the development of a new SIM issuance strategy that cannot be compromised to ensure that there is no repeat of the past process that was compromised through pre-registration by some agents.
A Multi-Sectoral Adhoc Committee was set up and tasked to immediately complete the review of the processes for new SIM activations for legal residents staying in Nigeria for less than 24 months. The membership of the Committee was drawn from NCC, NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Furthermore, MNOs that already have Service Centres in important and critical locations in LGAs, are expected to upgrade these Centres to a level where they can qualify as SIM Swap Centres in order to reduce the challenges associated with the SIM Swap/Replacement process for the citizens. The purpose is to bring SIM Swap Centres closer to Nigerians regardless of their location.
Key stakeholders that joined the Honourable Minister at the meeting include the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). Others included the NCC Executive Commissioners for Technical Services and Stakeholder Management, MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, EMTS (9Mobile), NTEL, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Glo.
