The Nigerian Communications Commission has ordered the suspension of sale and activation of SIM cards across the country.
NCC said in a statement on Tuesday that the move would allow the audit of the country’s Subscriber Registration Database across.
NUC’s Director, Public Affairs Ikechukwu Adinde, said operators were strictly required to comply with the directive pending conclusion of the audit.
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The Commission also threatened sanctions where operators fail to comply. Part of the sanction could be withdrawal of operating license.
Adinde said based on the directive of Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, exceptions could be allowed with the approval of the Federal Government.
The NCC said the audit would help the Commission determine the rate of compliance to standard and other requirements set by the commission for SIM Card registration exercise.
The NCC recently stepped up commitment to stop the use of unregistered SIM cards to perpetrate cybercrime and other criminal activities in the country.
Pantami had earlier this year directed the NCC to deactivate all illegally registered SIM leading to the deactivation of 9.2 million pre-registered SIM cards across Nigeria.