The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has denied fixing December 31, 2011 as deadline for Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card registration saying until the ongoing harmonisation between operators and the regulator was completed,? the window was still open for those who were yet to register to do so.
Head, Media and Public Relations of the NCC, Mr. Reuben Mouka, who disclosed this in reaction to an online publication (Not LEADERSHIP.NG), which said the NCC has stipulated December 31 as deadline.
According to him: “The Commission wishes to dissociate itself from this story as a false, mischievous and deliberate fabrication by the author to attract undue attention and cause confusion in the minds of the stakeholders and the general public. The author of this story is not known, seen, or spoken to by any official of the Commission on any subject matter whatsoever, not least on SIM Card registration.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission wishes to reiterate its commitment to the ongoing harmonisation of registered SIM cards, involving the collation, reconciliation, cleaning, and consolidation of the captured data into a central data infrastructure for efficient management of Nigeria’s subscriber data base. Within this period, subscribers who have not registered their SIM cards for any reason whatsoever, still have a chance to register.
Mouka said no telecom operator was permitted to disconnect any subscriber on account of SIM cards registration until the completion of the process which would be officially announced to the general public by the Commission and at which time those who were yet unregistered would be automatically disconnected.