SIM Registration And Crime Control

If the decision of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to commence the registration of all subscriber identity module popularly known as SIM cards by the end of this month is anything to go by then the game may soon be over for those who use mobile phones to indulge in criminal activities such as acquiring many lines for criminal purposes and service providers who are in the practice of transferring dormant lines to other subscribers.

Reuben Monka, head of media and public relations of the commission revealed NCC’s plan to a bewildered nation of the proposed SIM registration. He said preparations had been concluded to effect the commission’s plan.  To this end, service providers had been directed to put necessary machinery in place for a smooth take-off of the exercise. Already, a bill proposed by the commission to give a legal bite to the scheme is before the National Assembly for passage into law.

When the project goes into operation, GSM subscribers will be required to produce valid identification documents like e-passport, company identity card, student’s identity card from valid institutions, driver’s licence from the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, the National Identity card and e-tax card before registration could be effected or a SIM card activated.

Information from NCC further had it that the exercise would commence with new subscribers but a time-table would be drawn for the registration of existing subscribers later which is expected to be concluded within six months from the date of its commencement. Arrangements have also been resolved to contract out the project to companies other than network providers.

Following frequent complaints by the public about the use of mobile phones for criminal activities, the NCC had to come up with the SIM registration policy which has been in operation in developed countries for a long time. It is believed in some quarters that the exercise would check criminal activities like kidnapping which is often accompanied by the demand for ransom made on mobile phones as well as other criminal activities.

The registration of SIM cards is not a novel practice. It is observed globally, useful both in intelligence gathering and the botching of crimes both in their conception and execution stages. Analysts have opined that the development is coming late into the country. Nevertheless, it has created anxiety among network providers and subscribers. Because of the logistic challenges of the task, some service providers are querying the six-month time frame for the completion of the project.

A staff of one of the network providers resident in Port Harcourt, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The six month time frame is not feasible for existing subscribers. If we go by the size of the country and think of the fact that several millions of Nigerians now use mobile phones, the only realistic period is one year if meaningful registration must be done.”

The demand for a longer time frame is necessitated by the envisaged huge planning and organisation that would be involved in the registration. For instance, equipment life computers with scanners, fingerprint reader and camera will be required at various locations in the country to carry out the registration. Besides these, so much money will be needed to import materials and perhaps expatriates for the exercise. The training of personnel to man the equipment nationwide will be carried out.

Apart from the issue of time brevity, one other area that has always agitated the minds of operators, is the idea of contracting the project out. It is the thinking of some operators that the move will destroy confidentiality and ensure profligacy. “This, to me does not seem like a well thought out project. It is one of those spontaneous things we do in the country. The idea of SIM registration is good but why must it be contracted out? When it is contracted out, it will be more expensive, it won’t be thorough aswell as secure,” said Mrs. Irene Bestowe, a former employee of Globacom in Port Harcourt.

Nigerians in may applaud the SIM registration project in principle, it however, has implications for both the network providers and subscribers. For the network providers, the exercise may lead to a drop in their subscribers’ base. Furthermore, when viewed from the standpoint of having it difficult to get existing subscribers to go through the asperity of registration, it is feared that those in the rural  areas would be untowardly affected be  cause they may not be able to possess the required documents prescribed by the NCC for registration of their SIM cards “We have to be careful here so that we don’t shut out rural dwellers from access to telephone facilities,” said Mr. A.M. Hart, an MTN subscriber.

Some others who spoke with The Tide expressed benightedness of the proposed policy but were doubtful of its success. They wondered why it took the commission 10 years to realise the import of registering SIM cards as was done in other countries. According to them, it would be difficult to register over 70 million active subscribers within six months as doing that would create confusion and panic among subscribers at the various registration centres.

In the view of Mr. Ibinabo Robinson Kalio, a mechanical engineering student of University of Port Harcourt, “The registration of SIM cards will go the way of Voter’s registration and the National Identity Cards. Corruption will mar the exercise.” If Kalio thinks that the project may fail, that seems not to be the opinion of Mr. Boma Kuro, a final year Gas Engineering student of the same institution.” The exercise will be successful and the six month time frame is achievable. All this depends on proper planning and the timely provision of logistics. I also think that contracting out the project is better because it will create more job opportunities”, said Kuro.

The registration of subscribers is not a new development in the country in the real sense of it. Before the introduction of GSM phones, NITEL subscribers were duly registered for the purpose of sending bills and effecting repairs as well as carrying out maintenance. However, with the introduction of GSM, the compulsory registration of subscribers in the country died out. Now, there is a fresh attempt at re-introducing it. The question is, will it be successful?

Arnold Alalibo