Business

‘SIM Card Registration, Major Exercise In Telecoms’

Published

15 years ago

January 13, 2012

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.

Business

Pipeline Explosion In Abua Odua, LGA Chair Calls For Calm

Published

3 weeks ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

Fresh explosions have hit oil and gas pipelines in Odau Community, in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, triggering a major security and environmental crisis that has forced residents to abandon their homes.

The first incident occurred along the Kolo Creek – Rumuekpe crude oil pipelines, operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.

This was followed by a gas pipeline explosion on the Ogboinbiri – Obirikom Gas Pipeline, operated by Oando Plc, in the same week.

In a statement by the Abua/Odual Council Chairman, Hon. Owolobi Michael Ofori said the blasts, suspected to be the handiwork of militants, have unleashed persistent gas leakage in the area, raising fears of fire outbreaks and toxic exposure as residents of Odau have largely deserted the community due to the dangerous situation.

According to him, some residents of the area have been hospitalised after inhaling the leaking gas, adding that the impact has spread to neighbouring communities, including Obedum, Emirikpoko, and Anyu in Abua/Odual LGA, as well as Oruma and Ibelebiri in Bayelsa State.

Hon. Ofori expressed deep concern over the plight of the affected residents and urged the operating companies to act swiftly.

The Council expressed its deepest sympathy to all affected persons and communities and remained gravely concerned about the safety, health, and welfare of residents whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by these incidents.

“We call on Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and Oando Plc to immediately deploy all necessary technical and emergency response resources to contain the fires, halt the gas leakage, secure the affected pipeline corridors, and mitigate further environmental and public health risks.” the Council Chairman Said.

The chairman also appealed to the two oil firms to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and relief materials to the displaced residents while work continues to restore normalcy.

The Council Chairman said he is working closely with security agencies and emergency responders to monitor the situation and coordinate necessary interventions.

The Council Boss advised Residents of the Local Government Area to remain calm, cooperate with authorities, and adhere strictly to safety directives.

Ofori further called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Rivers State Government, and other relevant bodies to intervene urgently to prevent loss of lives and environmental damage.

Hon. Ofori assured that the council remains committed to the protection and welfare of its people and will continue to engage all stakeholders to resolve the crisis.

Enoch Epelle

Business

Fidelity Bank Collaborates YEIDEP To Empower Nigerian Students

Published

3 weeks ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship through a strategic partnership with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), a Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills, support and opportunities needed to build sustainable livelihoods.

Under the partnership, the bank will support the enrolment of students and young people into the YEIDEP programme, which is designed to tackle youth unemployment, promote enterprise development and expand economic participation among Nigeria’s growing youth population.

The next phase of the initiative is scheduled to end today at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where the enrolment exercise for students and youths across the South-East that started since July 1st would be concluded at the university’s Convocation Arena.

The exercise is expected to reach more than 60,000 regular undergraduate students.

Speaking on the partnership, Fidelity Bank’s Divisional Head, Product Development, Osita Ede, said youth empowerment remains central to the bank’s vision of building a more inclusive and prosperous society.

He noted that Nigeria’s youths represent the country’s greatest asset and stressed that providing them with the right skills, opportunities and financial support is critical to unlocking their potential and driving national development.

According to Ede, the bank continues to provide young Nigerians with tools for success through its digital banking platforms, financial literacy initiatives, youth-focused products and strategic partnerships.

He added that Fidelity Bank recognises that limited access to funding, mentorship and business development support remains a major challenge for many aspiring entrepreneurs, and is committed to creating pathways that will help them overcome these barriers.

The bank said its support for YEIDEP aligns with its longstanding commitment to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which it described as key drivers of economic growth and job creation in Nigeria.

Interested students and youths have been encouraged to open Fidelity Bank accounts and register for the programme through the bank’s dedicated online portal.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NPA Launches Multi-Agency Taskforce To Combat Apapa Traffic Gridlock

Published

3 weeks ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a multi-agency task force to combat the resurgence of traffic gridlock choking the Lagos Port access roads, in a fresh push to restore seamless cargo evacuation and sustain recent gains in Port efficiency.

The intervention followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23rd, 2026, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate the bottlenecks disrupting cargo movement.

At the meeting, stakeholders identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational distortions as major factors responsible for the renewed congestion along the port corridor.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority’s overriding priority is to guarantee the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to him, the task force comprises the NPA, the Police, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).

“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement on the Port access roads on a regular basis, identify any disruption capable of causing gridlock and immediately resolve such challenges,” Onyemakara said.

He stressed that members of the task force would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance without obstructing traffic.

To enhance rapid response, Onyemakara disclosed that the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report infractions or emerging traffic issues for immediate intervention.

On the long-delayed renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the terms to ensure a more robust contractual framework before awarding a fresh agreement.

He explained that although the previous contract had expired, the ETO platform remains operational under the management of the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending completion of the procurement process.

He expressed confidence that the renewal would be concluded soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing Port access roads, Onyemakara said efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s drive to improve Nigeria’s Port competitiveness and preserve its growing international reputation.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos