Business
By Anthony Isibor.
THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has insisted that Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, their licensed agents and telecom subscribers should always comply with the Subscriber Identity Module SIM registration, activation and replacement procedures as set out in the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Registration.
The Commission made the request during the 6th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Town Hall which was aired life on Radio Treasure FM 98.5, Garden City, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend with the theme: “Understanding SIM Replacement Procedures”, was broadcast under the Commission’s flagship radio programme; the auspices of NCC Digital Signature.
The sensitisation programme had NCC officials and representatives of MNOs in attendance.
Speaking during the radio Efosa Idehen, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, urged operators to ensure that there was strict compliance when registering their customers, while the customers have the responsibility of being vigilant to ensure that they are properly captured either for new SIM activation or SIM replacement.
Idehen also enumerated the importance of SIM registration to personal and national security and noted that compliance with the stipulated procedures for SIM replacement will curb identity theft, fraudulent SIM swap and other deceitful activities that can be carried out with a SIM card.
“As the telecom regulator in Nigeria, our role is to enforce compliance with the extant SIM activation and replacement procedures in order to avoid problems that may arise in the event of stolen, lost, damaged SIMs or the need to upgrade SIM cards,” he said.
He informed the listeners that, in accordance with the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Registration, “All SIM replacements shall be undertaken by the service providers or their licensed agents in a controlled environment to eliminate the recurrent complaints of inconclusive SIM replacement procedures. He said such experiences have resulted in subscribers being defrauded by cyber fraudsters.
Idehen also advised the telecom consumers to be wary of fake SIM registration agents purporting to be working for MNOs with intent to defraud unsuspecting subscribers. He said one of the antics of such agents is to ask for the one-time password, OTP, forwarded to the consumer for activation of the SIM, especially after the SIM replacement process has been done. He warned telecom consumers to be wary of such scams.
Similarly, Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, who spoke on the requirements for SIM replacement, said that the use of National Identification Number, NIN, is compulsory in addition to all other criteria stated in the SIM Replacement Guidelines.
According to Adinde, who was represented by the Port Harcourt Zonal Controller, Venny Eze-Nwabufoh, the provision is stipulated in the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM registration.
“NIN for SIM replacement is beneficial as it helps in identifying the real identity of a mobile phone user, limiting identity fraud, other network related crimes as well as improving national security.
He also said that the public sensitisation on SIM registration generally is in line with the obligation of the Commission to ensure effective implementation of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Registration.
In addition, both Directors at the Commission informed the listeners that the NCC is responsible for overseeing the implementation and management of the National SIM Registration Database.
They also added that “One of the obligations of the Commission is to ensure the implementation of the policy on revised national identity for SIM registration, and to have oversight of its strategies, standards, guidelines as well as frameworks in order to improve the identity and security management of mobile phone subscribers in Nigeria.
AI.
Apr. 07 2022 @ 10:44 GMT
Tags: Efosa Idehen Ikechukwu Adinde NCC Venny Eze-Nwabufoh
