By Correspondent in Ilorin
The Association of SIM Registration Agents (ASREG), Kwara state chapter, has urged the Federal government to withdraw the suspension order placed on sale, registration and activation of SIM cards, following reported hardship being faced by phone users in the country.
In a statement in Ilorin on Friday, the association by the Association said the ease became necessary because millions of Nigerian youths had been rendered jobless by the recent suspension order by the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.
The Reporters recalls that the Federal government directive on the suspension of new registration of SIM cards was attributed to the rising insecurity across the country.
According to the government, unlimited access to pre-registered SIM cards has always aided criminals to perpetrate and get away with tkidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and acts of terrorism among others.
As a result of these factors, the Federal government directed Nigerian Communication COmmission(NCC) to suspend activation of new SIM cards in order to allow audit of the subscribers.
It will also ensure registration, database and verify and ensure compliance by Mobile Network Operatives (MNO) with the set quality standards and requirements, as issued by the Ministry and the Commission.
In another development, Mr Sunday Ajomoko, the chairman of the chapter,while speaking said, “As a registered association under the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the registration number RC119510, we are fully in support of the Federal Government’s measures to protect the lives and property of the citizenry,” he said.
He, however, advised the Federal Government to tread carefully, saying that available research works on causes of insecurity across the country had been linked primarily to youth unemployment.
Ajimoko, who said that the suspension order might lead to worse form of insecurity, especially with the current economic activities in the country, added that income of millions of youths who depended solely on sales, registration and activation of SIM cards had been placed on hold.
“More importantly, the prospective buyers of new SIM cards have expressed their disappointment over the absence of new SIM cards in the market, due to the current suspension which has invariably affected the sale of phones and other gadgets.
“We therefore wish to say that, the Federal Government can still achieve its desired objectives and results as well as avoiding creating more problems in an attempt to solve a problem, if the suspension is reversed to avoid danger which the suspension may likely cause to the idle youths.
“We suggest that, no new SIM card should be able to synchronize without being paired with the subscriber’s National Identification Number while activating the linking of subscriber’s number with their respective NIN.
” We, therefore, suggest that the sale of SIMs, registration and activation should be allowed to continue while the linking of SIM to NIN should be ongoing in order to achieve the desired results,”he further advised.
