The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has uncovered a troubling trend of SIM card hoarding, with some individuals found to possess more than 100,000 SIM cards.
Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, revealed in a statement on Wednesday that the findings highlight the dangers posed by the unchecked accumulation of SIM cards by individuals.
This alarming situation emphasizes the importance of completing the NIN-SIM linkage process to ensure that each SIM card is tied to a verified identity.
“The discovery of individuals with over 100,000 SIM cards is not just a regulatory issue but a major security threat,” Muoka said.
“It points to significant lapses in the registration process and highlights the urgent need for stringent enforcement of the 2020 policy mandating the linkage of SIM cards to NINs.”
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the NCC’s collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was instrumental in uncovering these cases of mass SIM ownership.
It was further gathered that this joint effort is part of a broader strategy to clamp down on the sale of pre-registered SIM cards, which remain a significant loophole in the country’s telecommunications regulations.
As of now, over 153 million SIM cards have been successfully linked to NINs, marking a 96% compliance rate—a notable improvement from the 69.7% recorded in January 2024.
However, the NCC is pushing for full compliance, directing all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to finalize the verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024.
“Effective September 15, 2024, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN,” the NCC stated, emphasizing its commitment to eliminating unregistered SIMs from the network.
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