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By Adaobi Nwangwu

To make sure all prepaid Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards are registered for the fight against use of mobile phones to commit crimes, Nigeria Communications Commission NCC has set up a 25 member Committee.
During the inauguration of the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer NCC, Ernest Ndukwe said the committee's report was intended to contribute to a policy guideline on a practical regulatory regime on the registration of pre-paid SIM cards.
Determined to bring to fore its resolve to have all pre paid SIM cards registered in the country, Nigeria communications Commission have set up a 25 member working.
The need to register pre paid SIM card arose out of the growing concern about the use of mobile phones to commit crimes and the difficulty in tracking down the perpetrators who take advantage of unregistered SIM card especially prepaid consumers.
Executive vice chairman of the NCC Engr. Ernest Ndukwe while inaugurating the committee said 'the decision to set up the committee was arrived at the stakeholders consultative forum where they unanimously agreed to registration of the SIM cards will not only aid in addressing security related issues but to also help the operators improve customer care and provide access to demographic details.
"We enjoin the Working Group, therefore, to be guided by the requirement of ensuring that the exercise achieves the purpose of ensuring that data records are available without also compromising the benefit of the industry and other stakeholders, without eluding the gains of easy accessibility to telephone services," he said.
Ndukwe mentioned that modalities for the registration need to be properly and carefully articulated, hence the need to make the membership of the working group broad based to accommodate all perceived interests groups for enriched, resourceful and quality contributions. Members of the working group included the major telecom operators, security agencies, INEC and Identity Card Management Commission as well as dealers in telecommunication and equipment and products.
The NCC boss said the Working Group is expected to conclude its task within a month.
Abuja Inquirer recalls that the NCC had on July 17, 2008 organised a consultative meeting with stakeholders to determine the need for a compulsory SIM card registration as a result of the use of mobile phones to commit crimes and the accompanying difficulties associated with tracking down the perpetrators who take advantage of non identification of the SIM users.
Engr. Ndukwe added that members of the group to see that "the exercise achieves the purpose of ensuring that data records are available without compromising the benefit of the industry and other stakeholders without eluding the gain of easy accessibility to telephone services".
The report of the committee is intended to contribute to policy guideline on a practical regulatory regime on registration of pre-paid SIM cards.
Responding the Chairman of the group Barrister Steven Adzinge Head, Legal services at NCC pledged the committee's commitment in ensuring that "this critical national assignment is executed diligently".