Nigerian Government Announces New SIM Card Replacement Policy

The federal government has released a policy for subscribers who intend to replace their lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged SIM cards.

This was announced in a joint statement signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, director of public affairs at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); and Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communication at National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), on Friday.

In December 2020, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, had directed all telcos to suspend the sale, registration and activation of new SIM cards until an audit of the subscriber registration database is concluded.

On conditions for SIM replacement, the federal government said: “Subscribers must present a NIN; an effective verification of the NIN is carried out by NIMC, and the relevant guidelines and regulations of NCC concerning SIM replacement are fully adhered to”.

According to the statement, the policy is part of the federal government’s efforts to reduce the burden on subscribers and simplify the exercise.

Both agencies said the policy is part of the federal government’s drive to ensure all subscribers’ SIM cards are linked with NIN, adding that all stakeholders in the telecoms industry are working together to ensure the process is carried out as seamlessly as possible.

On December 31, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) announced that subscribers with NIN now replace their lost or damaged subscriber identification module (SIM) cards.