The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has clarified what it described as the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers. The statement was contained in a statement issued yesterday by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde. The commission in a statement said that its attention has been drawn to numerous publications in the media space regarding the matter of mass disconnection as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM Registration Records with the National Identity Number (NIN). “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to numerous publications in both print and electronic media regarding the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM registration records with the National Identity Number (NIN).
“It is, therefore, necessary for the commission to issue this clarification to allay fears of subscribers and the general public.”
“Most of these publications are 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, Wi-Fi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, tracking devices etc.
“A recent survey conducted in Nigeria has shown that on average, there are now approximately four to five SIMs to every human subscriber. This explains the basis of allowing the linkage of up to seven SIMs to on 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 emphasize that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIM(s) 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.”
