Nigeria - Regulator considered the N64.5 billion costs of the SIM card registration programme, which parliament refused to fund

[leadership] The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) is expected to meet to deliberate on the N64.5 billion proposed by the Commission for SIM card registration.

Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, made this known in Abuja yesterday while inaugurating the newly appointed board of the Commission.

It would be recalled the House of Representatives, last month, refused to approve the N64.5 billion proposed by the Commission for SIM card registration. The lawmakers who insisted that it was the responsibility of the operators to register SIM card, also noted that the amount proposed for the exercise was too high.

But, while inaugurating the NCC board, Akunyili said the Commission would deliberate on the matter to determine whose responsibility it is to conduct the exercise, even as she insisted that there was no going back on the exercise.

"I quite agree with the legislators that the cost of the contract for SIM card registration is too high. We will quickly brainstorm on who should actually pay for this registration, government or the operators. The NCC board also needs to review those contracts before taking them to due process office for evaluation and approval," Akunyili disclosed.

"There is no going back on SIM card registration. The first phase involving the registration of new SIM cards by operators has commenced. You are to direct all relevant operators to stop forthwith any sales of new SIM cards without capturing the necessary data of the owners. Government demands and expects full compliance," Akunyili said.

Stating that subscriber base has recorded 78 million active lines and a teledencity of 56.32 per cent, the minister told the Commission that Nigerians deserved to have one of the best lowest tariffs in Africa. She, however, urged the Peter Ighor led board to address the issue of tariff as soon as possible. She maintained that infrastructure sharing would reduce operational cost and drive down tariff.

"There is no way we can be talking about new intercontinental fibre optic cables without a reduction in the cost of broadband access," She said. Akunyili also announced that NCC has appointed an advisor to kick off the process of implementing the number portability progrogramme.

On the use of the GSM platform for lottery, Akunyili said, "Government position is that operators must stop all lottery activities in whatever shape or guise without following due process through approval by the Nigeria Regulatory Commission. Also, NCC in exercising its regulatory functions must ensure that consumer education is given due attention," she said.

Responding, the board chairman, Engr Peter Ighor and the Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah promised that the Commission would address all the problems enumerated by the minister. While Ighor pledged to abide by the Nigeria Telecommunication Act, the EVC said that he would be transparent, fair, openness and follow due process in the discharge of his duties.

NCC to Meet Over N64.5 Billion SIM Card Registration