Regulator wages war against shops selling unregistered SIMs

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September 7, 2016 11:40 AM

An NCC executive said those arrested would be prosecuted and issued a warning to the public.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, NCC CEO/EVC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is cracking down on businesses still selling unregistered SIM cards in Abuja.

On Tuesday, the regulator raided shops of such persons engaging in this business at the popular Wuse Market in Abuja, and its environs and arrested the suspects.

Salisu Abdu, Head of the NCC's Enforcement Unit, said during the raid that the action was aimed at enforcing regulations on SIM regulation.

“Today we have gone to MTN premises, now we are in Wuse market. The purpose of the exercise is to ensure unregistered SIM cards are not sold to the public.

“For some time, NCC has been trying to apply the SIM regulation so that all SIMs are duly registered.

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“There is danger in selling unregistered SIMs, it compromises national security. We get reports that in so many locations in Abuja and across the nation unregistered SIM cards are being sold,” Abdu said, according to a PM News report.

According to Abdu, this is not the first time the Commission is carrying out such an exercise, adding that it was regrettable that in spite of the NCC's efforts, unregistered SIM cards were still on sale.

The NCC executive said those arrested would be prosecuted and issued a warning to the public asking them not to have anything to do with agents that are not registered by the Commission.

For some reason, Abdu failed to mention how members of the public can recognize an NCC "registered agent," seeing as SIM cards are being sold in every nook and cranny of the country.

The NCC, in a statement released on August 31, 2016, warned dealers and agents against selling pre-registered SIM cards.

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