NCC to Sanction Operators for Selling Pre- registered SIMs

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has warned telecom operators to desist from flouting the order banning sale of pre-registered SIM cards or face stiff sanctions.

Mr Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs, said that “despite regulations and directives against the sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards, Operators through their Dealers/Agents are still selling pre-registered SIM cards in several parts of the country”.

Ojobo drew attention of the operators to the section 19 and 20 of the Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Regulations, 2011 saying the commission under the provisions of these sections of the Act, would not hesitate to mete out appropriate sanctions if this continued Sections 19 and 20 of the Act states that: 19

1) Any licensee who fails to capture, register, deregister or transmit the details of any individual or corporate subscribers to the Central Database as specified in these Regulations or as may be stipulated from time to time by the Commission is liable to a penalty of N200,000.00 for each subscription medium.

(2) A licensee who activates any Subscription Medium without capturing, registering and transmitting the personal information to the Central Database commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N200, 000.00 for each unregistered activated Subscription Medium

20. (1) Any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulations is liable to pay a penalty of N200,000.00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium.

(2) Where the Commission is satisfied that a body corporate is culpable, the Director, Chief Executive Officer, Manager or Secretary shall also be liable to pay a fine of N200, 000.00 unless, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the surrounding circumstances, he proves that-

(i)    the offence was committed without his knowledge, consent or connivance; and
(ii) he took all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to prevent the Commission of the breach.