Reps Ask NCC To Extend Deadline On Blocking SIM Cards Without NIN

Reps Ask NCC To Extend Deadline On Blocking SIM Cards Without NIN

The House of Representatives has asked the National Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the December 31st deadline issued to sim card owners to submit their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to their network providers to prevent blocking.

The motion was moved on Wednesday during plenary by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu.

According to the lawmaker, two weeks is too short for 200million Nigerians to conclude the process.

The House lauds the intention of the NCC, for security reasons but wants the process to be extended to 10 weeks, considering the difficulty experienced by Nigerians in attaining the NIN.

Elumelu disclosed that the House even made recommendations to the NCC recently regarding the policy.

“As laudable as the policy is, Nigerians have not been properly sensitized. In this yuletide season, it could lead to stampede and exploitation.”

Opposing the amendment to extend the registration by 8weeks, Uzoma Abonta stated that one year would be appropriate for the process.

However, the amendment for a one-year extension was rejected by the House.

The Federal Government had on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to all telecommunications operators in the country to block all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) without National Identification Number (NIN).

It also ordered the network operators to ask all their subscribers to provide valid NIN to update their records and suspend SIM registration.

These formed parts of the resolutions adopted for immediate implementation by all network operators at an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry held in Abuja.