Last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced that the sale of new SIM cards will take place starting today, the 19th of April, 2021. While this is great news for Nigerians, many have huge concerns about the National Identity Number (NIN) that has become the major requirement for everything SIM-related.
The Minister of Digital Economy and Communications along with major stakeholders announced that the National Identity Number (NIN) is compulsory for acquiring and activating new SIMs for individuals, corporate bodies and for replacement of lost or stolen SIM cards.
We at Techbooky went into the streets to get people’s views on this recent development. Here are some of the responses we got…
Techbooky: “…so sir what do you think about the recent development pertaining SIM registration?”
Mr. Dare (entrepreneur): “SIM registration is back now? I did not know sef”
Techbooky: “Yes sir! Nigerians can buy and activate SIM cards from on Monday sir”
Mr. Dare (entrepreneur): “That is a good development o. I think it is high time SIM registration came back. It is a nice development o. Ope o!’
Techbooky: “Well done sir! Sir you don hear say people fit dey register SIM card starting from this Monday wey dey come?”
Mr. Joseph (Welder): “Yes my brother. Me I hear am as my children dey talk am for house. Them don loss sim card taya, so them dey happy well well. Na correct something but e no concern me because I never still do my NIN. Them never block my SIM so I no dey worry about that one…”
Techbooky: “What are your thoughts about Government’s recent decision on registration and activation of new SIM cards?”
Barr. Chukwudi (Lawyer): “As I always tell people, no matter how gory a decision turns out to be, there is an iota of good and vice versa. I think the Government has realized how placing SIM activation on continuous hold can affect the National economy in dire ways. Telecoms companies have lost revenues that go into millions and aggregately billions these past three months, I think. This is a great start at recovery by these companies. On the other hand, statistics show that NIN registrations have improved very well. So I think these might be better days for both Nigerians that need to access SIM services and Telecom companies”
