FG Blocks 2.2 Million Unregistered Mobile Telephone Lines

The Federal Government says it has blocked a total of 2,277,311 improperly registered lines.
This followed a directive issued to the Nigeria Communications Commission by the Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Pantami.
Dr. Isa Pantami had ordered the NCC to compel the service providers to block all unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards, pending when their owners regularise their registration.
A statement released by the Ministry of Communications on Saturday said 6,830,249 out of the 9.2 million improperly registered SIM cards of the lines were revalidated by September 25, the deadline of an ultimatum on the regularisation issued on September 12.
A report submitted by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC on Thursday, 26th September, said a total of 2,277,311 improperly registered lines have been blocked.

A statement, signed by Mrs Philomena Oshodin, Deputy Director/Head Information/Press and PR Unit,of the ministry said “Pantami has reiterated the need for all improperly registered SIM cards to remain blocked until they are properly registered.’’

The statement described the development as ‘unprecedented’, coming just 36 days since Pantami assumed office as minister of Communications.

Pantami, according to the statement, commended NCC and the telecoms operators for working hard to carry out the directive in record time.

The statement said the Federal Ministry of Communications was collaborating with relevant parastatals and security agencies to ensure that the security of lives and property in the country was not compromised through the use of SIM cards.
The statement added that Pantami has also “directed that the profiles of persons linked to crime, aided and abetted by the use of SIM cards, should be promptly provided to the relevant security agencies when requested and a copy is sent to him for monitoring.”