The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to seek ways of stopping the importation of counterfeit ICT devices into the country.
The commission also warned Nigerians against buying preregistered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards as buying and using such cards is punishable by law.
Acting Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umaru Danbatta, who stated this at the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair said that the commission cannot tolerate the use of preregistered SIM cards by criminal elements to perpetuate crimes in the country adding that anybody involved in the sale, distribution or use of preregistered SIM card is considered a threat to national security.
He said, “We request that subscribers avoid buying or distributing preregistered SIM cards as this is a criminal act punishable by imprisonment. Anybody involved in the sale, distribution or use of preregistered SIM card is considered a threat to national security, and if caught, will face the ugly consequences.
Danbatta explained that the decision to deactivate SIM cards that were not properly registered during the SIM card registration exercise was to ensure the collective and individual security of Nigerians.
By Pita Ochai
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