The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has announced the deactivation of 2.2 million improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module, SIM cards across telecommunication networks nationwide.

The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Umar Danbatta, made this known in a statement signed by Henry Nkemadu, Director, Public Affairs of the comission in Abuja.

Mr Danbatta said that the commission’s efforts in this regard were in line with one of the key agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen security of lives and property of all Nigerians.

“We have since initiated the second phase of SIM deactivation based on the Ministerial directive and as at today, we have completely deactivated the remaining 2.2 million lines on the networks.

“This is contrary to reports by a section of the media, suggesting that nothing has been done with respect to the issue of improperly registered SIM cards.

“Following the September 2019 Ministerial directive, however, the NCC, within a week, intensified efforts by reducing the number of improperly registered SIM cards from 9.2 million to 2.2 million,” he said.

He, however, said that over the years, the NCC had worked with determination and through various policy initiatives, to rid mobile networks of improperly or invalidly registered SIM cards.

The EVC explained that this was to ensure that all the current over 184 million registered SIM cards across Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) networks had valid data that were traceable.

According to him, our efforts received a boost, following the implementation of a September 12, 2019 ministerial directive that the NCC should compel service providers to block all improperly-registered SIM cards, pending when their owners regularise their registration.