The Nigerian Communications Commission has said that it has successfully eliminated all unregistered subscriber identity modules from the country’s telecommunications network, describing the development as a major step towards strengthening national and cyber security.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Aminu Maida, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, though he admitted that the NCC could not control the names with which subscribers registered their lines.
“No unregistered SIM is operating on the network as of today, but there may be people using names they did not register with, apparently to mask their identities. We cannot control the names attached to each SIM, as they reflect what the owners used at the time of registration with their respective operators,” Maida said.
He warned that it remained an offence in Nigeria to use false identities when making or receiving calls. “While NCC cannot control that behaviour, it is to be noted that it is an offence to use fake names to make or receive calls in Nigeria,” he added.
Maida further said that the commission had put in place measures to ensure stability in the industry so that subscribers could determine the best network to patronise based on quality of service and charges.
He revealed that the NCC would, in September, launch a public map showing which network operators provide the best coverage and tariff plans in various locations.
The EVC also stressed the need for fresh capital to be injected into the industry, noting that the Commission had revised corporate governance guidelines to promote transparency, accountability and investor confidence.
“The need for good corporate governance guidelines requires that operators in the industry must provide audited reports to boost investors’ confidence and earn the trust and confidence of their customers,” he said.
On the recent tariff adjustment, Maida explained that it was necessary, as the industry had operated without a cost-reflective framework for more than a decade. He said the NCC balanced the need to protect both operators and subscribers before approving the new rates.
He also promised to engage with state governors to address the persistent threats to telecoms infrastructure and to tackle the problem of multiple taxation. According to him, improved protection of facilities and fairer levies will translate into better service delivery and enhanced national security.
