NIN Registration: Reports says NCC will not be disconnected users on a large scale… How true?
Unconfirmed reports have said that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will not be disconnected telephone users on a large scale in connection with National Identification Number (NIN) registration.
The agency said the current linkage of SIM registration records with the NIN was aimed at enhancing general safety and helping the government to plan for national development. It was further stressed that the clarification became necessary as many subscribers had become jittery that their lines might be disconnected over NIN registration.
The News Nigeria reported that the NCC’s director of public affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, advised the public to ignore speculation of a massive cut-off in some sections of the media, adding that the publications were “based on the erroneous assumption that for every network or SIM connection, there is one unique human subscriber.”
“However, with the advent of social media and App-driven digital environment, network subscription went beyond human subscribers to include machines like PoS, Routers, WiFi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, tracking devices etc,” he said.
Adinde recalled that a recent survey conducted in Nigeria showed that there were approximately four to five SIMs to every human subscriber.
“This explains the basis of allowing the linkage of up to seven SIMs to one unique NIN in the recently launched Federal Government Portal.
“Thus, if there are 43 million Nigerians with NINs, this could account for about 172 million SIMs already linked to NINs.
“It is very important to emphasise that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIMs is for the common good of all Nigerians, as it has far reaching benefits.
“Apart from enhancing our general safety, this will help in such vital exercises like national budgeting, policy planning, social intervention programmes and many more,” the statement said.
While the report is yet to be verified, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned against the sale and purchase of the NIN.
The commission said some unscrupulous persons were cashing in on the enrollees’ desperation to induce them to sell their NIN for a fee.
The EFCC said that it is not only illegal to sell NIN, but perpetrators also stand the risk of vicarious liability for any act of criminality linked to their NIN.
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