The Federal Government has disclosed that the National Identity Number (NIN) and SIM Card linkage will help with national budgeting, policy planning, social intervention programs, and many more.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
PRESS STATEMENT
CLARIFICATION ON THE UNFOUNDED FEARS OF MASS DISCONNECTION OF TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS
Link: https://t.co/B5qTsrEhig pic.twitter.com/pBd3KYYpFr
— ncc.gov.ng (@NgComCommission) January 7, 2021
The statement was to allay fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers due to the ongoing exercise.
According to the statement, “apart from enhancing our general safety, this will help in such vital exercises like; National Budgeting, Policy Planning, Social Intervention programs, and many more.”
Linking of Multiple SIM cards to a unique NIN
While the Commission is also out to educate the people, it claimed that majority of the publications that suggest such were mostly based on “erroneous assumption.”
As such people were made to believe that every network or SIM card is connected to at least one human subscriber.
ALSO READ: NCC Takes New Decision On SIM Card Registration
On the contrary, NCC clarified that the advent of advanced technologies, i.e, social media and App-driven digital solutions, has created more windows for the use of network/SIM subscriptions.
“Network subscription went beyond human subscribers to include machines; like PoS, Routers, Wi-Fi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, tracking devices etc,” a part of the press release read.
Also, backing its statement with data, NCC claimed that a recently conducted survey indicates that, on average, there are now approximately 4 to 5 SIMs to every human subscriber.
The provision of this data-backed fact clearly explains the Commission’s basis of allowing the linkage of up to 7 SIM cards to a unique NIN.
“If there are 43 million Nigerians with NINs, this could account for about 172 million SIMs already linked to NINs.”
No “Official Consequences” for unlinked SIM cards
While the Commission failed to mention the consequences of flouting the SIM-NIN linking exercise, it emphasised that the ongoing exercise is for the common good of all Nigerians.
ALSO READ: NIMC Adopts Booking System For NIN Enrolment
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, assured that the government will continually review the exercise to ensure smooth implementation moving on.
Also, the statement urged publishing stakeholders and reporters to always seek clarification from the Commission especially on sensitive issues.
Nigerians’ comment about the new revelation
As expected, Nigerians have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the Commission’s latest disclosure.
In what appears to be a disappointing revelation for majority, below are mixed reactions on Twitter.
YOUR STATEMENT CLARIFIED NOTHING. WILL SIM CARDS THAT ARE NOT PAIRED WITH NIN BE DISCONNECTED AFTER THE FEBRUARY DEADLINE GIVEN BY YOU AND @DrIsaPantami @nimc_ng? YES OR NO?
— blóð (@premiumXS) January 7, 2021
Are you now saying, any SIM card not linked with the NIN, after the expiration of the deadline and the extension, won't be blocked or deactivated?
What happens in a situation where one SIM card is registered with two NINs because of reallocating people's SIM cards to other users?— Micah Ugala (@UgalaMicah) January 7, 2021
All this group of thieves making laws for innocent citizens who is fooling who???? BVN IS NOT ENOUGH NOW NIN FOR SIM ABI… make I laugh at them 🤣🤣🤣🤣 very soon it will be Have you registered your the name of your girlfriend 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Dennis 🕊☀️ (@Dennis21822101) January 7, 2021
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