News
That Zombie Order on NIN-SIM Integration

By Chido Nwakanma
Our Federal Government has gone mad again.
It is difficult to draw any other conclusion upon news of the inexplicable FG order to telecom operators to block from their networks all users without the National Identification Number in two weeks, meaning from 30 December 2020. It has neither rhyme nor reason.
The order only reminds one of the Not To Be Broadcast hit of the late legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti. What thought processes informed such an order? Now officials of various government agencies are coming out of the woodworks with what they imagine to be clarifications.
This time the order is from the Nigerian Communications Commission, according to a statement by its Director of Public Affairs Dr Ikechukwu Adinde. The statement is on the IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SIM REGISTRATION RULES. It follows the directive of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami).
Stakeholders of the Communications industry met on Monday 14 December and agreed on this New rule on SIMs.
“The meeting had in attendance the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as well as the CEOs and Management staff of all service providers in the industry.”
The December Madness thrown upon the nation by NCC is because of an alleged “need to consolidate the achievements of last year’s SIM registration audit and improve the performance and sanity of the sector”. They decided on “urgent drastic measures… to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process.”
The Minister decided and instructed
- Operators to require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records.
- The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (from today 16 December 2020 and end by 30 December 2020).
- After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks.
- A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks.
- Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.”
The Oxford Dictionary defines a zombie as A corpse said to be revived by witchcraft, especially in certain African and Caribbean religions. The order is a zombie, seeking to revive by word of mouth the corpse of NIN registration. The Oxford Dictionary defines a zombie as A corpse said to be revived by witchcraft, especially in certain African and Caribbean religions. ‘It has taken up to ten years without much progress. With the order of Minister Pantami, over 100 million Nigerians will suddenly succeed with their efforts at getting a NIN number! Wonderful.
It is nothing but a power show, dangling the threat of license withdrawal on the telcos and blocking from the network on citizens. The stated rationale is too thin to justify this Draco’s Decree.
I have a word for Minister Isa Ali Ibrahim. Think again, Sir, and reconsider this stance. Many reasons show why it is unworkable and does not cohere with rational thinking.
There was no such requirement when citizens like me registered our SIMS. You cannot spring such a new rule on us at the end of the year and give a two-week timeline for 150 million people. The Ministry and its agencies cannot manage logistics of the registration exercise, even as they have stayed away from discussion of the modalities.
Many citizens have tried without success to register for the NIN. I have done so thrice. One was at the Stanbic IBTC branch on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island. I have since tried to use the slip they issued me that day in the bank only for it to draw a null (NIN). I have done the online version—the same result.
The order comes as workers everywhere are shutting down for the year. National Identity Management Commission has notoriously been unable to manage the national identity process for more than eight years. How will it do so in two weeks? Baffling is the fact that their CEO sat at that conference and did not own up to the logistical impossibility of such a task.
Challenges with SIM are not like the pandemic. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, nations spaced out the implementation of lockdown and other control measures. Speaking of which, both the Ministry and NCC want to serve as instigators for super spread of COVID-19 that will happen inevitably when people converge in large numbers at NIN centres to attempt to register for their NINs again.
It is also curious that the Minister is compelling the telcos to do in two weeks what has taken them two decades of slowly and steadily building one success factor of the Nigerian economy. What will these draconian rules mean for a sector that the regulator and operator have built on dialogue and consultation over the last 20 years? Check the records, Sir.
What or who is behind the drum of this emergency? To stem what really?
The Bankers Committee worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria to implement the Bank Verification Number (BVN). It has been systematic and procedural, not knee-jerk. There is a well-articulated Regulatory Framework for Bank Verification Number Operations and Financial System Watch List. It has taken more than seven years. BVN has yet to capture all bank customers as it is work in progress.
Minister Isa Ibrahim Pantami would in my estimation not want to be associated with governance as punishment for citizens. In case he does not know, his Integrate NIN in two weeks or lose your SIM or license is nothing but authority as hemlock. We will not drink poison. Take it away. Put together a team of thinkers to study how other nations introduce new policies and the timelines they allow for implementation.
Please withdraw this order as quickly as you issued it.
Chido Nwakanma is a Marketing Communications expert
News
Lasaco Assurance to Invest in Technologies, Systems to Deliver Value to Clients

Lasaco Assurance Plc, has said it would continue to invest in technologies and systems that delivers tangible value to clients and drive industry innovation.
Mr Abiodun Razzaq, Managing Director of Lasaco Assurance, who stated this at the 2025 customer forum organised by the company for its northern region customers in Abuja, said the forum’s interactive session offered an invaluable platform for open and constructive dialogue.
He said the forum brought together a distinguished assembly of customers, including policyholders, brokers, corporate clients, and industry partners, to engage in a robust dialogue aimed at enhancing service delivery and aligning offerings with the evolving expectations of the Northern market.
In his opening remarks, Regional Manager (Northern Region), Lasaco Assurance, Mr. Kunle Hamza underscored the company’s unwavering dedication to stakeholder engagement as a foundational pillar of its growth strategy. He emphazised that customer insights remain integral to shaping policies, refining service processes, and reinforcing the company’s brand promise.
He provided a compelling overview of Lasaco assurance’s recent performance and strategic priorities. He highlighted the company’s consistent premium income growth, bold digital transformation agenda, and ongoing operational restructuring designed to ensure responsiveness and resilience in a dynamic insurance landscape.
Addressing the customers, Mr. Adedayo Adetokun, Head of Strategy, affirmed that Lasaco assurance was actively developing multiple digital platforms to cater forvarious customer segments—part of a broader digital innovation roadmap that positions the company for future growth. He noted that human capital development was also being prioritised with targeted investments in talent acquisition and training to enhance operational capacity.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Muyiwa Anwoju, General Manager, Sales, expressed the management’s deep appreciation for the feedback received.
He assured participants that all contributions would be meticulously reviewed, categorised, and integrated into the company’s improvement plans. According to Anwoju, this forum marks the beginning of a renewed customer engagement framework, one that would be expanded across other regions in due course.
News
CAC Announces Upward Review of Service Fees

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced an upward review of its service fees, which will take effect from August 1, 2025.
The announcement was made through the commission’s official social media page on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
According to the CAC, the fee adjustment was necessary due to the current economic conditions, rising operational costs, and input from key stakeholders.
The statement read, “The Commission wishes to inform the General Public, Esteemed Customers, and all Stakeholders that in the continued efforts to improve its service quality and delivery, it has become necessary to review certain service fees effective the 1st day of August 2025.”
The commission explained that the fee changes are part of efforts to deliver better and more digitalised services while maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s corporate registry.
The revised fee structure will affect services related to companies, business names, limited partnerships, and incorporated trustees.
Key fee changes announced by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) include adjustments across various service categories.
For voluntary striking-off, the fee is now ₦50,000 for small companies and ₦100,000 for public companies, up from the previous ₦25,000.
Relisting a company will cost ₦50,000 for LTD/GTE and ₦100,000 for public companies.
Due diligence through self-service is set at ₦50,000. Requests for extension of time to hold an annual general meeting will now cost ₦100,000 for public companies and ₦50,000 for others.
Historical search reports will range from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000 per request. A restriction of a director’s residential address now attracts a ₦25,000 fee, while obtaining a certified true copy of documents or extracts will cost ₦5,000 per copy.
For limited partnerships, both voluntary striking-off and relisting will cost ₦25,000. A letter of good standing will be ₦10,000, registration and certified copies of documents will be ₦30,000, and a change of name will attract a ₦10,000 fee.
Regarding business names, voluntary striking-off is now ₦10,000, relisting ₦25,000, and an application for cessation ₦10,000. The certified true copy of documents will cost ₦5,000 each, and restriction of a proprietor’s address will also be ₦25,000.
Name reservations remain at ₦1,000, while reserved names with restricted words still cost ₦5,000.
The new fee structure is expected to impact business owners, lawyers, compliance officers, and others who interact with the corporate registry.
News
Global Travel Made Simple with Kaspersky eSIM Store

Kaspersky eSIM Store is a new connectivity solution for international travel. Designed to make it easier for leisure and business travellers to stay online globally, it empowers users with easy Internet access across 150+ countries and regions, with a choice of over 2,000 affordable data plans.
The production of eSIM-compatible devices has increased tenfold in the last five years according to the GSMA. By 2028, it is expected that half of all mobile connections worldwide will use eSIM technology.
This rise in popularity is driven by eSIM’s convenience and ease of use – eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and enabling a hassle-free experience wherever you go.
To meet this growing trend, Kaspersky eSIM Store provides access to eSIM plans from local telecom operators all over the world – with an easy interface and simple management.
A new way to always stay connected
Kaspersky eSIM Store lets users to enjoy affordable and easily accessible Internet connections around the globe without the hassle of physical SIM cards. Users can seamlessly access eSIM plans from local telecom providers in 150+ countries and regions worldwide, providing favourable rates and transparent conditions without any roaming fees.
While travelling, an eSIM can help users avoid high roaming costs on a primary SIM, remove the need to search for a local SIM kiosk and share personal data with them, as well as avoiding the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
Instead, eSIM ensures that leisure travellers can focus on the joyful moments of their trip and instantly share them with friends and relatives, while business travellers have continuous access to important messages, working documents and video calls.
Seamless connection in a few taps
Kaspersky eSIM Store features a user-friendly interface for plan selection, purchase, top-ups, and data usage management. Travellers can choose their preferred activation date, allowing them to set up their eSIM in advance and be connected the moment their trip begins — all in just a few taps.
To match the needs of any traveller, there are many flexible ways to choose and manage data plans.
Options are available based on destination, including plans for specific countries, global plan 122 destinations, or mini-global plans tailored to specific regions.
For trip duration, travellers can select between expiring plans valid for a fixed period or non-expiring plans that remain active until the data is fully used. This ensures convenience whether the trip is short or long.
Additionally, users have control over when their plan starts. They can either schedule activation for a specific date or begin using the data immediately, providing flexibility to align with their travel schedule.
To ensure users never run out of GB unexpectedly, Kaspersky eSIM Store provides real-time data usage monitoring and alerts when a balance is near zero. The user profile (on the webpage or in the app) allows quick top-ups and supports multiple countries on a single eSIM – install once and use for a lifetime.
Kaspersky eSIM Store is launched in partnership with award-winning provider BNESIM Limited, which has been delivering global eSIM services since 2017.
“At Kaspersky we are constantly keeping up with latest trends shaping our digital habits, and eSIM is definitely one of them. eSIM technology greatly simplifies travelling abroad, allowing people to stay connected and not worry about issues like roaming charges.
“We know from our own experience how important it is to stay in touch with your family or colleagues when you are on a trip, so we designed Kaspersky eSIM Store for all types of travellers to ensure instant access to eSIM data plans wherever they go, as well as to provide a safe and positive digital experience,” – Mikhail Gerber, Executive Vice President, Consumer Business, Kaspersky.
Kaspersky eSIM Store complements Kaspersky’s wide range of industry-recognised solutions, such as Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection and Kaspersky Premium. Together they cover all modern connectivity needs and enhance digital freedom – ensuring safe, worry-free connectivity across the world.
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