Telecom

Nigeria’s telecom regulator suspends SIM card sales until further notice

Nigeria’s telecom regulator suspends SIM card sales until further notice
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 19:28

Mobile operators MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile cannot sell, let alone activate new SIM cards in Nigeria until further notice. An injunction has been issued to them by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) which has initiated an audit of their compliance with the SIM card identification guidelines.

The telecom regulator was assigned this task by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, in line with the federal government's desire to consolidate the results of the SIM card identification exercise of September 2019.

The regulator has notified telecom operators that failure to comply with this directive will result in severe sanctions, which could go as far as the withdrawal of their operating licenses.

For their part, the operators - fearing a considerable impact of this ban on their revenues, especially during the holiday season which is generally full of business opportunities - are seeking a meeting with the Minister of Communications and the Digital Economy to discuss the issue.

According to MTN, arrangements to discuss with the Nigerian telecom boss about lifting the trade restriction as soon as possible will be made during the week.

On the same topic
Government launches satellite program to reach underserved and remote areas Goal is to connect one million people to the Internet by the end of...
Mauritania launches e-health initiatives, including a national vaccination database and the E-CNAM platform for digital insurance and...
CAMTEL signs a three-year deal with Ethio Telecom to support digital modernisation and prepare the launch of its Blue Money service. The...
The African Development Bank has greenlit a second-phase loan to support Cabo Verde’s E-Governance and Public Financial Management Reform...
Most Read
01

Camtel to launch Blue Money in 2026, entering Cameroon’s crowded mobile money market led by MTN Mo...

Cameroon: State Owned Telecommunication Company To Enter Mobile Money Market
02

Kossi Ténou succeeds Badanam Patoki as president of the AMF-UMOA. Ténou brings over 20 years of e...

Togo’s Kossi Ténou Appointed President of AMF-UMOA
03

BYD plans to open 35 dealerships in South Africa by Q1 2026, earlier than initially scheduled...

South Africa: BYD Targets 35 Dealerships by End-March 2026
04

The government will apply a 15% tax on all payments to foreign digital platforms starting Jan. 1...

Zimbabwe to Impose 15% Tax on Foreign Digital Services From 2026
05

Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa hosts 860+ startups but faces deep structural weaknesses EY urges...

Major Tech Reforms Needed for Francophone SSA to Attract More Investment, Report Says
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.