Telecoms operators in the country now charge their subscribers N100 to register their new SIM cards in the open market. When the SIM registration exercise started March 28, subscribers were not charged. But Daily Trust findings in Abuja and Lagos yesterday revealed that Airtel, Glo, MTN, Etisalat and Visafone have mandated their agents carrying out the SIM registration on the streets to charge any subscriber who bought a new SIM card at the open market N100 for registration.
At a registration point in Area 1, Abuja, an agent of one of the operators, who identified himself as Emeka, told Daily Trust that the directive which discontinued the registration of new SIM cards free of charge was given to them last month.
“We have been collecting money since then,” he said.
Emeka said they were told by their employers (telecoms operators) that the government had stopped funding the SIM registration exercise after its official expiration on September 28.
However, spokespersons of the telecoms operators said they were not aware of any directive to their agents to charge for SIM registration. They said the exercise is free and obtaining money from subscribers is illegal.
MTN spokesperson, Mrs Funmi Omogbenigun, said “MTN has never charged for SIM registration. Anybody who has been asked for money should immediately report to the nearest MTN service centre. Anyone who requests money for SIM registration is acting illegally and will be dealt with if found out.”
Also, Emmanuel Otokhine of Airtel, vehemently denied that the company directed its agents to charge for SIM registration. He said, “where? which location? What is the name of the agent? That can’t be true? We all know SIM registration is free.”
Etisalat spokesperson, Efe simply said the company was not aware of the charge. Glo spokesman, Charles Ikoabasi simply said “no, we did not ask anybody to collect money for SIM registration.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) could not be reached as at the time of filing this report as calls placed to its spokesman, Reuben Mouka’s mobile number did not go through yesterday.
But the commission, in one of its statements on SIM registration recently, said the exercise was still free.
“With effect from March 28, 2011, all new SIM cards in Nigeria must be registered before activation,” the NCC said in a statement earlier in March.
It said: “The NCC, in exercise of its regulatory functions as provided for by the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, wishes to inform the general public and all the relevant stakeholders that arrangements have been concluded for the commencement of registration of all SIM card holders in Nigeria.”