No Plans To Lift Ban On New SIM Card Registration Soon – FG

Telecom subscribers who are interested in getting new SIM cards may have to wait longer as the Federal Government on Thursday said it has no plans to lift the ban placed on new registration.

The government had in December 2020 imposed the ban as part of an audit exercise “to verify and ensure compliance by Mobile Network Operators with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM Card registration as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Commission”.

The Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) were directed to “immediately suspend the sale, registration and activation of new SIM cards until the audit exercise is concluded, and the government has conveyed the new direction”.

But when the government lifted the suspension order on the replacement of SIM cards in January, it was silent on sale of new SIMs.

Speaking at the sixth edition of the ministerial briefing by the Presidential Media Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Isa Pantami said the government has no plans to lift the ban.