Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has announced a revised set of regulations to guide subscriber identity module (SIM) card and National Identity Number (NIN) rules, intended to tighten loose ends and introduce self-help measures.

One of the key highlights of the “Business Rules issued pursuant to the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulation in support of the National Identity Policy for SIM Card registration and related activities published in 2022 which is premised on the mandatory use of a NIN” stated that “Record of all recycled SIMs shall be purged of any NIN attached, this is to allow new subscriber register or submit and link a new NIN.

The scope of application of the new rule in a document sighted yesterday at the Commission’s website covered NIN-SIM Registration Database Harmonization; New SIM Activation and Registration; Corporate, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) activations; SIM Activation for foreigners; Mobile Number Portability (MNP); Churned and Recycled SIMs; and agents and dealers governance.

Under the new rule, corporate new SIM sales/activation shall have a Primary Telecoms Master (Telecom Master) shall be minimum Executive Management Staff while corporate subscribers have the option of also appointing a secondary or operations telecoms master.

It said both Primary & Secondary/Operations Telecoms Master shall be indicated in a Telecom Master Authorization letter.

Machine to Machine (M2M) SIM registrations will only require NIN of the Primary Telecom Master.

Telecoms master authorization letter shall be signed by one or two C-Level staff (or above) of the corporate organization.

The Telecoms Master Authorization Letter shall provide among others, registered names of the Primary Telecoms Master, Official Designation of the Primary Telecoms Master, NIN of the Primary Telecoms Master i.e. Primary NIN, MSISDN of the Primary Telecoms Master (within the corporate account).

It stated however that registered names of the Secondary/Operations Telecoms Master (Optional).

It must also contain official designation of the secondary/operations telecoms master; MSISDN of the Secondary/Operations Telecoms Master (within the corporate account); NIN of the Secondary Telecom Master; Indemnity letter specifying the full responsibilities and liabilities of the Primary Telecoms Master and signed by the Primary Telecoms Master and C-Level staff of the Corporate Organization

A CSV file (or other searchable format) of all associated/secondary SIMs on the same account is provided (not applicable for internet of things (IoT)/M2M). This shall provide all associated SIMs on the account; first, Middle (optional) and last Names of each Secondary User; NIN of each Secondary user i.e. Secondary NIN; alternate SIMs of Secondary Users; Certificate of Incorporation with Registration Number duly verified by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) (not applicable to companies listed on Nigerian Stock Exchange); tax Clearance Certificate or Tax Identification Number (not applicable to companies listed on Nigerian Stock Exchange).

Public sector and government organizations are also to present legal instruments showing evidence of establishment; Verify Primary Telecom Master NIN by matching Communications Service Providers Primary Telecom Master SIM Registration with NIMC records of Primary Telecom Master NIN.

Where there are mismatches or Primary Telecom Master SIM Registration is unavailable in respect of an Existing Corporate Subscriber, Communications Service Providers shall obtain Primary Telecom Master Passport Photograph and other demographic details; Communications Service Providers shall verify Primary Telecom Master NIN records against details provided via the electronic facial matching and case-management which includes manual facial verification process; Communications Service Providers shall provide NIMC records to Primary Telecom Master and obtain consent to use the records as Corporate SIM Registration,” it stated.

It stated that Communications Service Providers shall update Primary Telecom Master SIM Registration with NIMC records; store consent, passport photo and all other documents on the account.

Communications Service Providers shall validate the Secondary NIN of the Corporate. This shall not be applicable for IOT/M2M; Communications Service Providers shall copy verified Primary Telecom Master NIN and each validated Secondary NIN on the SIMs accordingly;

Where a Data only service is particular to individual use e.g home, car tracking, WiFi, MiFi services, et al, the standard NIN registration process will apply;

Where Primary Telecom Master’s NIN data and Communications Service Providers SIM Registration records match, and Secondary Telecom Master’s NIN is successfully verified, other forms of verification shall not be required;

Where Primary Telecom Master’s NIN data and Communications Service Providers SIM Registration KYC records do not match (or where Primary Telecom Master’s SIM Registration database is not available), SIM Registration data shall be updated with NIN details upon facial verification of Primary Telecom Master’s passport photograph and consent form from corporate subscriber;

Any peculiar request different from any Corporate entity which is at variance to the General Rules on Corporate and IoT/M2M SIM activation shall be treated on case by case basis after such corporate entity procures a waiver from NCC and upon written directives from the NCC to the concerned Communications Service Providers.

A check must be carried out by the Communications Service Providers for all new activations and port-in requests to ensure that the limit on the number of activations per subscriber as specified by the Commission from time to time are strictly adhered to.

The total number of SIMs an individual subscriber is permitted to acquire is a maximum of four SIMs with a single NIN on any Communications Service Providers’ network. Provided that the rule shall have no retroactive effect on SIMs purchased prior to April 27, 2021. This limit shall not apply to Corporate and IoT/M2M activation scenarios.

In respect of Foreigners who wish to activate New SIM (which includes subscription medium), and perform MNP (porting of numbers), the following general rules shall apply:

Foreigners who are lawfully residing in Nigeria for a period of two years or more fall under the category of Registrable persons and shall require a NIN to register their SIM and request for MNP; and 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.

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, Communications Service Providers shall capture the resident’s details for NIN issuance as part of the NIN enrolment process, upon presentation of resident permits; foreigners with Visitor’s visas (with visa less than two years) do not require a NIN.

MNOs will capture the International passport biodata page; and Visa page.

Foreigners with Diplomatic visas (including family diplomatic visas) will also require a NIN for their personal telephone lines if they are staying in Nigeria for two or more years.

Those staying less than two years will require International passport biodata page and letter from embassy indicating that their stay is for less than two years.

In respect of Embassies and Diplomatic Mission, what shall be required include the data page containing the passport number of the diplomatic passport of the Head of Mission/Embassy along with a Letter of Request signed by the Ambassador or its equivalent for registration of the official telephone lines of the Embassy/Mission in Nigeria shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification and confirmation and registration of the SIMs; SIM (which includes subscription medium) of the diplomatic missions are to be linked with Corporate Diplomatic Identification Number (CDIN) which will be unique to each diplomatic mission.

Each mission will also be responsible for managing the lines and allocating them internally. Furthermore, the head of Mission is to serve as the Telecom Master or point of contact for the mission.

The rule also set out self-service option. It noted that the self-service option for resolving biometric mismatches can only be conducted by the Communications Service Provider itself and cannot be an option for such activity by an agent or third party.

All self-service activities shall be in line with the specifications and requirements set out in  1 of these Business Rules.

Agents, third parties and other entities are not allowed to use the self-service option for any service, mismatch resolution or data update. This category must conduct these activities in a controlled environment.

It said a controlled environment for the purposes of these Business Rules must be properly lit and illuminated; Images should be captured against a white or plain background; it must have the logo of the Communications Service Provider; it must be operated by a duly licensed and approved agent; the agent must have a valid means of identification and a verified NIN; the registration centre must be a permanent structure; and the premises must be clearly marked a “SIM Card Registration Centre”.