- Nigerian mobile phone users can no longer have over three SIM cards.
“There should be a maximum number of SIM cards that can be tied to a single individual, possibly a maximum of three,” the new rule states.
- For Nigerians, no new SIM can be registered without the individual's National Identity Number (NIN).
- Foreigners will have to use their passport/visa number to register their sims.
According to Pantami's directive, “The updated policy is expected to ensure that the National Identity Number becomes a prerequisite for Nigerians registering new SIM cards (while for foreigners, their passports and visas should be used)."
Here is why the policy has been updated
The minister has revealed his reasons for revising the SIM card registration and usage policy.
Explaining the need for this review, he said these new rules are mostly for security reasons and to adhere to the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.
“The revision of the policy is based on the feedback received from the security agencies following the successful revalidation of improperly registered SIM cards in September 2019 and the blocking of those that failed to revalidate their SIMs,” the statement said.
It will also “ensure that subscribers can easily check the number of SIM cards registered to their name, along with the associated phone numbers and networks.”
Users of existing users are expected to update their details with their NINs before December 1, 2020.
![Minister of Communications, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami [Twitter/@DrIsaPantami]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'790'%20height%3D'527'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Minister of Communications, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami [Twitter/@DrIsaPantami]")
![NCC vows to end use of pre-registered SIM cards in Nigeria - Official [sundiatapost]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'501'%20height%3D'291'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "NCC vows to end use of pre-registered SIM cards in Nigeria - Official [sundiatapost]")
