The House of Representatives has mandated it’s Committee on Telecommunications (when constituted) to interface with Global System for Communication (GSM) providers to stop them from reselling already purchased SIM.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion on the, ”Need to Stop Global Service for Communication (GSM) Providers from Reassigning Paid Sim Cards”.
Moving the Motion on Tuesday at the plenary, Hon. Boniface Emerengwa, explained that GSM came into Nigeria in 2001 with Econet (now Airtel) and MTN as the first providers.
He noted that the advent of GSM enables Nigerians to have access to a variety of different services that were never possible or contemplated in the past such as Mobile Banking Services.
The lawmaker admitted that GSM has helped tremendously to improve the business environment in Nigeria, thereby providing ease of doing business in the country.
He recalled that SIM registration began in April 2010 upon directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to track subscribers in the possible event of an abuse of usage.
Emerengwa stressed that SIM registration entails the personal information and submission of individual biometric scans which are retained in the SIM by the Provider.
He expressed worry that the SIM cards paid for by individuals but not in use for six months are resold to another subscriber.
The lawmaker further expressed worry that after the registration of a fresh subscriber of a pre, registered SIM, the details of the earlier subscriber still show when exposed to True Caller App.
He expressed regret that bank alerts of old subscribers are sent to the new subscriber and vice-versa, thereby exposing customers to huge financial risk; particularly under the growing regime of ‘yahoo boys’.
To this end, the House mandated, “the Committee on Telecommunications (when constituted) to interface with Global System for Communication (GSM) providers to stop the Providers from reselling already purchased SIM and report back within two (2) weeks for further legislative action.’