Subscribers may be restricted to three phone lines

An individual may no longer be able to own more than three phone lines going by a directive handed down to the Nigerian Communications Commission by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isah Pantami.

The directive was based on security considerations.

Pantami directed the NCC to revise the policy on SIM card registration and usage, according to a statement issued by his Technical Assistant on Information Technology, Dr Femi Adeluyi, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The revised policy would ensure that, henceforth, the National Identity Number would become a compulsory requirement for registration of new SIM cards in the country.

The new policy would also put a cap on the number of mobile phone lines or SIM cards that could be obtained and registered by an individual.

Currently, many Nigerians have multiple mobile phone lines as they could buy as many as possible.

Pantami, in the directive issued to the NCC, suggested that an individual should not have more than three mobile phone lines or SIM cards.

While fresh registration of SIM card is to be accompanied with a subscriber’s NIN, all already registered SIM cards are to be updated with the identity number before December 1, 2020.

Similarly, foreigners are to use their passport and or visa numbers to register SIM cards.