By Damilola Kushimo
Many agents of Mobile Networks Operators (MNOs) have been rendered jobless following the Federal Government’s ban on registration of new Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards and retrieval of the loss or damaged ones without National Identification Number (NIN).
The government has equally ordered that all the existing SIM cards be linked with NIN, making people to rush to NIMC centres to register for their National Identity cards.
Some of the MNO agents in Isolo who spoke to ECHONEWS, blamed the situation on the slow pace of the registration exercise at NIMC registration centres across the country.
They urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to decentralise the registration centres for National ID card to ease the stress applicants go through and increase the numbers of persons that are registered on daily basis.
Since Wednesday, December 9, 2020, MNOs and Internet Services Providers (ISPs) had ceased to sell or activate Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) based on the order given by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
Although the suspension has been partially lifted for the replacement and activation of old SIMs owned by existing customers but it is yet to take effect.
Expressing their dissatisfaction with the suspension of SIM related activities which has since led to the closure of some SIM registration outlets, SIM registration agents urge the federal government to extend the NIN registration centres to banks, MNOs headquarters and offices and other corporate places in order to decongest the NIC registration centers
An Airtel MNO agent at Ire-Akari area of Isolo who did not want his name in print lamented that the company has laid off workers since there was nothing to do.
He explained that each of the employees make more than N3000 daily from registration of new SIMs and other related services but the suspension has wiped out their income.
His words: “The suspension of SIM activities has affected our business and made our workers jobless because most of the shops are locked. Most of our workers have nothing to do now. We have about 17 workers who make more than N3,000 daily but with this suspension, they have nothing to do.
Notung that the decision came during hard times, he said the agents are losing customers daily. “Admission seekers come here to complain that they can’t receive code from JAMB to perfect their registration and I fear that many people may have to lose their admission this year because their SIMs got lost and they cannot retrieve them. Market women and other business owners come here for reactivation issues as well.” he said.
He said all existing subscribers who have issues with their SIMs will be able to reactivate them next week provided they have NIN and that is one of the reasons why we are appealing to the commission to extend the registration centres to our offices, banks and other corporate places to decongest the major centres.”
Another shop attendant identified as Oluwaseun, who works in a registration centre along Ibeh Road, also lamented the adverse effect of the situation on her business.
She also appealed for decentralisation of the registration centres and provision of more equipment to the existing centres to increase the productivity of the agents.
Meanwhile, ECHONEWS observed that there is only one system used to register the teeming applicants at the only NIC registration centre in Isolo LCDA within the council secretariat, limiting the productivity of the personnel.
As of the time of filing this report, bookings have been made by applicants till March 2022 for the registration.
