FG Issues Fresh Guidelines For Stolen, Lost Sims

Federal government has announced fresh guidelines for the replacement of SIM cards that are damaged, stolen or lost as part of efforts to tidy up the processes of obtaining fresh cards.

These new guidelines follow the recommendation of a Ministerial Task Force on issues relating to the telecoms industry and National Identity Numbers.

According to a statement signed jointly by the spokesmen of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and Mr Kayode Adegoke, it was noted that the new guidelines are to make processes easier for Nigerians.

The statement noted that the drive to ensure all Subscriber registrations are linked with National Identification Numbers (NINs) was moving forward, while all stakeholders in the industry were working together to ensure the process was carried out as seamlessly as possible.

The statement said the Technical Committee charged with the operationalisation of the process to ensure an expedited linkage of all SIM Registration Records with NIN had recommended fresh guidelines for damaged, stolen or lost SIM cards.

The statement reads: “Based on recommendations of the Technical Committee, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has approved a SIM Replacement Policy for subscribers whose SIMs have been lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged subject to the following conditions:

i) That the subscriber present a NIN;
ii) That an effective verification of the NIN is carried out by NIMC; and
iii) That the relevant Guidelines and Regulations of NCC concerning SIM Replacement are fully adhered to.

“This policy is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the burden on subscribers and simplify the exercise.

“It is aimed at enabling telecommunications service users who need to replace their damaged, stolen or misplaced SIMs to re-establish access to telecom services.”