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‘SIM Card Registration, Major Exercise In Telecoms’

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14 years ago

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The registration of the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards by the NCC was one of major developments in the telecoms industry in 2011.

The NCC registration exercise started immediately after the conclusion of individual service providers’ registration of the SIM cards. The SIM registration by the service providers started in 2010 and ended in 2011.

The NCC registration was officially flagged off by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the  NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, on March 28, 2011.

Juwah said that the involvement of NCC in the project was to ensure that the registration project achieved the primary goal of checking crime rates in the country.

He said that the NCC registration was significant as the nation had been waiting for the day when all the SIM cards being used in the country would be registered.

The NCC EVC also said that the project would enable the country to have a central data base for all mobile phone users in Nigeria.

He said that NCC would bequeath to the nation a pool of data that would assist other agencies of government, especially the security agencies and the National Identity Management Commission.

“Although challenges are not unexpected in an exercise of this nature, we will make every effort to minimise and overcome such challenges as they occur.

“We currently have over 89 million active lines in the national telecoms network and after six months from today, all these lines are expected to be registered.

“The registration exercise will last for a period of six months,’’ Juwah said.

He called on users of mobile phones in Nigeria to register their SIM cards with NCC appointed SIM card registration agents nationwide.

“No Nigerian or visitor to Nigeria, using mobile phones, is exempted from this exercise.

“At the end of the six months of this registration, all unregistered SIM cards will be disconnected from the various networks,’’ the NCC’s chief said.

The NCC directed that proxies could register the SIM cards of their minors or elderly persons.

Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management in the NCC, Mr Okechukwu Itanyi, said that the gesture was allowed where such dependents could not come out physically to register.

“A dependable relation can register on behalf of a subscriber, which means that the photograph and biometrics of such relation would be taken in place of the phone owner,’’ Itanyi said.

He said that the decision of the commission to allow for proxy registration was to ensure that no SIM card user was left out of the exercise.

At the end of the six months provided for the registration exercise on September 28, the NCC announced an extension of the exercise.

Muoka said that the extension was to provide time for the harmonisation of the data collected during the six months period.

“While the Commission commends all telephone subscribers who were able to register their lines within the six months schedule for the registration, a new window of opportunity is now open for those who have not yet registered their SIM cards to do so within the limited period of the harmonisation exercise.

“This limited period, provides the last chance for all users of existing SIM cards to register as all unregistered SIM cards will be promptly disconnected without further notice at the conclusion of the harmonisation exercise,’’ he said.

Mouka said that the Commission was fully aware of the clamour by interested stakeholders for extension of the period.

The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON),

Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said that service providers asked for extension and NCC granted it.

Adebayo said that NCC was in a better position to tell how long the harmonisation period would take because they were the custodian of the data.

“We hope that in no time, we can harmonise these data and conclude the exercise,’’ he said.

Director of Customer Care at Globacom, Maria Svensson, said that although the operators wanted an extension of the registration period, that there was need for a specific date to be given.

Svensson said that subscribers’ enthusiasm to the exercise had waned as they had the feeling that there was no definite deadline.

The President of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS),

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said it was wrong for NCC to allow indefinite registration of SIM cards among subscribers and the registering telecoms operators.

According to him, the suspected indefinite extension will not help NCC achieve its mandate on SIM registration.

The NATCOMS President called on NCC to fix a time frame for the harmonisation of data to enable Nigerians have a clear understanding as to when the registration would end.

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Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.06%

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6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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Three States Record Lowest rates Published 16 Mar 2026 By  Dave Ibemere 3 min read The NBS has revealed that inflation rates dropped again in February 2026 The bureau noted that both headline and food inflation eased on a year-on-year basis Inflation was lowest in Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi, while the highest was recorded in Kogi.
 Nigerian economy, the stock market, and broader market trends. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s inflation rate slowed further in February 2026. According to the bureau in its latest CPI report, the headline inflation dropped slightly to 15.06% from 15.10% in January 2026. Nigeria’s inflation eases to 15%, offering relief to households. It was 11.21 percentage points lower than the 26.27% recorded in February 2025. From breaking news to viral moments.  On a month-on-month basis, inflation stood at 2.01% in February, up from -2.88% in January, showing that prices rose at a faster pace than the previous month. Nigerian stock market records weekly gain as turnover hits N164.8billion Urban vs Rural Inflation NBS noted that urban inflation stood at 15.53% year-on-year, down from 28.49% in February 2025, while rural inflation was 13.93%, compared with 22.73% in the same period last year. Every month, urban inflation rose to 2.55% in February from 2.72% in January, while rural inflation eased to 0.71% from -3.29%. Food Inflation Food inflation dropped to 12.12% year-on-year in February, down sharply from 26.98% in February 2025. Monthly, food prices rose by 4.69%, higher than the -6.02% recorded in January. The NBS attributed the moderation to slower price increases in staples such as beans, cassava tuber, yam flour, crayfish, millet flour, cowpeas, and okazi leaf. The twelve-month average for food inflation was 19.08%, compared with 37.40% in February 2025. States breakdown for All Items The states with the highest all-items inflation rates were: Kogi (23.57%) Benue (22.85%) Anambra (22.09%) The lowest rates were recorded in: READ ALSO Naira appreciates by N27 against US dollar as external reserves cross $50bn Katsina (7.78%) Imo (11.66%) Ebonyi (11.71%) On a month-on-month basis, the highest increases were in Enugu (5.92%), Ogun (4.39%), and Anambra (4.11%), while declines were seen in Zamfara (-2.14%), Bauchi (-1.23%), and Katsina (-1.06%). Food staples contribute less to inflation as prices moderate in February. Photo: Bloomberg Source: Getty Images State Breakdown for Food Inflation Food inflation was highest in: Kogi (26.91%) Adamawa (23.12%) Benue (21.89%) The lowest food inflation rates were seen in: Katsina (5.09%) Bauchi (7.09%) Imo (7.65%) Month-on-Month Food Inflation The states with the highest month-on-month increases in food inflation were: Bayelsa (8.81%) Ebonyi (8.51%) Edo (7.72%) The states that recorded declines were: Katsina (-0.70%) Nasarawa (0.17%) Kano (1.39%) Food price changes across markets in Nigeria Earlier, The  Tide source reported that due to Ramadan, staple food prices across the country are recording sharp increases as Muslims begin the Ramadan fasting season Ramadan is not only a period of abstinence from food and drink, but also a time for ‘reflection, discipline and heightened devotion’ Several traders in Abuja, Taraba, and Kaduna states are taking advantage and have hiked price. The NBS has revealed that inflation rates dropped again in February 2026 The bureau noted that both headline and food inflation eased on a year-on-year basis Inflation was lowest in Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi, while the highest was recorded in Kogi.
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NDCCTMA, NDDC MDS Challenge Niger Delta Indigenes On Investment In The Region 

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6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture  (NDCCTMA), and the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Domestic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The bodies made the call at a Business Round Table organized by NDDCTMA, in Port Harcourt.
Chairman of NDDCTMA, Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can  do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here.”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase”, he stated.
Ogan noted that the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where saying “that is why we are gathered here in this room”.
Also speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment  as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city, we have gone to Lagos,we have moved  our families to Abuja and Lagos. If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
By; John Bibor
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Cash Handouts Unproductive For Sustainable Agricultural Development – Engineer Kii

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6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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Rivers State by its natural disposition is gifted with strategic economic advantage, particularly in  agricultural potentials and fortunes. This informs successive governments’ interest in  developing the agricultural sector, such as the School to Land Program, the Shongai Project, among several others.
The objective is to engender and leverage the sector  beyond mere subsistence practices into a full thriving economy, with the engagement and involvement of the youthful and productive population.
The Farm to Future Agro Based Training for Rivers youths by the present administration is notably one of the most pragmatic efforts of the Rivers State Government to engage the prospective creative capital of both the natural and human resources in the agricultural sector for sustainable development.
The concept, premised on the imperative of maximizing the huge agrarian prowess of the state, targets creation of sustainable livelihood for the teeming youth of the state. The project is also intended to achieve the chore needs of food sufficiency and job creation in the state.
This implies a significant deviation from the acculturised norm of expectations of financial benefits as the outcome of government programs and policies.
The tenets of the program are expressly difined in concept and practice as shown in the phases of its execution.
However, some beneficiaries of the project recently staged a protest, allegdging unpaid largesse, diversion of funds and perceived slighting by the Rivers State Ministry of agriculture. The said protest has stirred up concerns among stakeholders about how people view  government policies.
Many see the protest  as an attempt to create tension around the program and sabotage its original objectives.
Stakeholders and commentators are of the view that the Rivers State is in dire need of development in every critical sector, as such the  Ministry of Agriculture and its partners should be given the benefit of the doubt to implement the project to its logical conclusion without being hauled with accusations.
The former Commissioner for Agriculture, Engineer Victor Kii who was at the fore of driving the program has in a press statement debunked the allegations and sued for calm, restraint and understanding. Engineer Kii assured the participants that the empowerment phase will be implemented as soon as administrative normalcy is restored.
He commended the participants for their commitment and discipline during the training and urged them to uphold the norms of the program rather than misrepresenting its intentions.
Some pundits who commented on the recent development decried the fact that many people  still hold on to the notion that  incentives billed to create sustainable impact through skills based programs, should be given out as  largess, without adroit supervision of its utility function. This practice  has however created a culture of economic doldrum, dependency and servitude in the past.
Thus the idea of seen the Rivers Farm to Future project  as a mere quixotic experiment for cash benefits  without achieving set goals is counter productive. Such opportunistic thinking have stunted government efforts  over the years in achieving long term objectives of development.
As disclosed by the former commissioner for Agriculture in his detailed explanation, the Farm to Future project was strategically designed to address this culpable deficit in institutional planning and consolidation of results.
The former commissioner gave an  explicit description of the nexus of operation of the program.
As revealed by him;  ” The program is a strategic intervention to equip young people in Rivers with practical skills and to nurture a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. 500 beneficiaries received intensive agri business training in the first phase.”
 He pointed out that the program was conceived and designed in line with global best practices which de emphasizes indiscriminate cash handouts for beneficiaries. Rather it promotes practical engagements in agricultural activities and business initiatives.
At the end of the training in February, beneficiaries were encouraged either individually or in cooperative clusters to identify value chain for establishment of viable businesses.
They were also asked to produce structured business proposals for perusal and review by the ministry of agriculture and appointed consultants, after which successful proposals would be forwarded to the Bank of Agriculture with Rivers State Government providing guarantees.
The strategies for implementation include field inspections and evaluation for beneficiaries who had already commenced practical activities in identified locations.
The approach was to discourage the commonplace ideology of diverting funds meant for specific projects for unrelated purposes, thereby undermining the conscious exploration of creative potentials into long term benefits.
The process was however temporary interrupted by the dissolution of the Rivers State Executive Council and the ongoing renovation of the Rivers State Secretariat complex but the profound optimism and positive expectations that are the hallmark of the project remains sacrosanct.
Engineer Kii assures.
By: Beemene Taneh
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