The security implications of unregistered, pre-registered and semi-registered SIM cards in Nigeria would be addressed.
The minister of communications, Isa Pantami, disclosed this on Thursday, October 24, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Communications in Abuja.
Mr Pantami was only recently appointed as the communications minister.
He said one of his goals is to use ICT to promote the security of Nigeria but that ICT “was being used to compromise the security of Nigeria because people planning to make any attack or robbery, usually coordinate using SIM cards.”
He said when Nigerians are kidnapped, people negotiate what to be paid, using SIM cards – an act that should not be tolerated.
According to him, “So I ask them immediately to go and begin or conclude audit exercise. Without audit exercise, we will not be able to know the total number of unregistered/pre-registered SIM cards.
“That figure was not available by the time I joined the Ministry and I gave them only one week to conclude that audit exercise.
“The did so and they came forward with around 9.2million pre-registered, unregistered or partially registered SIMs.
“With this number, definitely, it was difficult for us to curtail any crime committed in the country.
“So I gave them another two weeks to announce to all Nigerians to come forward and conclude their registration.
“If it is incomplete, you have two weeks to complete. If it is preregistered, you need to come forward and present your biodata and all the information required to complete it.
“After that period the number was reduced to 2.4million. Then that 2.4million I gave them another one week and I said by 25th of September 2019, you should make sure that there is no unregistered, preregistered or partially registered SIM on our networks in Nigeria. All these 2.4million should either be blocked or deactivated.
“Whoever comes forward to present the necessary information then you can activate, deactivate or de-block his number.
“I will give you the number used to commit the crime and you have only 60 minutes to produce the details and information with regards to that.
“And if you fail to do that, definitely the operators must be sanctioned. Because this has been the agreement with them. And I will not tolerate that henceforth.”
He said to date, there has been no information contrary to the directives given.