The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that foreigners who are exempted from enrolling for the National Identity Number (NIN) would need to apply for SIM activation two times a year for two years. This means they will make this request every six months.
In a report made available to newsmen and entitled, ‘Business Rules and Operational Processes for Implementation of the National Policy for SIM activation, Replacement and Other Key Telecommunications Operational Processes,” the regulatory body maintained that foreigners who do not observe the SIM activation within a six-month period would be deactivated.
According to the report, “SIM activations for foreigners exempted from enrolling for NIN shall be configured for a period of six months in the first instance and can be renewed further upon request and where the visa is not for a stay of two years and above.
“Foreigners validly transiting through Nigeria or are employed in or reside in Nigeria for less than 24 months are exempted from the mandatory use of NIN requirement. Persons in this category need to provide justification that they will be residing in Nigeria for less than two years.”
The report made exemptions for foreigners whose visas allow them to stay in the country for more than two years saying that this category of foreigners would need to do a proper SIM registration.
“NIN is mandatory for foreigners with legal residency status or those living in Nigeria for two years and above. For those who do not already have a NIN, mobile network operators shall capture the resident’s details for NIN issuance as part of the NIN enrolment process, upon presentation of resident’s permits,” the report maintained.
Azuka Edokobi is a Writer , a Farmer, a Supply Chain Expert and an Entrepreneur
