FG told to withdraw suspension of sales, registration of SIM cards

The Association of SIM Regustration Agents (ASREG) has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to withdraw
the suspension order of sales, registration and activation of SIM cards.

The association in a statement on Friday said the ban has plunged millions of SIM registration agents into serious hardship as they have lost their jobs.

The statement which was issued by Kwara State chapter of the association in Ilorin noted that Nigerian youths dominated the business and the recent order by government has really affected them.

The Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy had recently suspended sales and registration of SIM cards.

The agency of government said, it placed the suspension order on SIM card registration due to the rising insecurity across the country.

It also explained that criminals have suspiciously used various SIM cards
to perpetrate crime and get away with their acts of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and acts of terrorism.

The statement which was signed by the Chairman, Mr. Sunday Ajimoko, said, “As a registered association under the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the registration number RC119510, we are fully in support of the Federal Government’s measures to protect the lives and properties of the citizenry.”

He argued that the rising case of insecurity was due to youth unemployment, hence, the Federal Government should deal with insecurity carefully.

Ajimoko advised further that no new SIM card should be able to synchronize without being paired with the subscriber’s National Identification Number while activating the linking of subscriber’s number with their respective NIN, while the linking of lines with NIN should be an ongoing exercise.