Nigeria moving forward with SIM card registration
11 January, 2010
category: Biometrics
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has decided to move forward with the registration of all SIM card holders, according to an All Africa article. Those without SIM cards registering for their first cards, simply need to have one of the many forms of acceptable official identification as well as provide a biometrics sample and a digital photograph.
Those who already have a SIM card wills till be able to register for the new ones, however the commission has not yet released detailed instructions for these people.
The purpose behind the registration would be to eliminate the anonymous SIM card use that is frequently used in the country by kidnappers and other criminals for negotiations without fear of being caught. Additionally, the NCC will now be able to trace the levels of usage of the SIM cards properly.
The NCC’s only worry about the change is how receptive and cooperative the retailers and companies selling SIM cards will be now that sales and activation will be slowed for registration purposes. Despite the waiting period, however, the commission is confident the positives of the new system far outweigh the negatives.
Read the full story here.