Nigerians scramble to meet SIM registration deadline

As the deadline for Nigerians to integrate their national identity numbers with their SIM cards draws closer, the government also disclosed that diplomats who reside in Nigeria for a continuous period of two years or more will also need the unique number. Olu Shalat-Tenyo-Lat, the Nigerian national coordinator for the Alliance for Affordable Internet and immediate past president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, recently joined CNBC Africa to provide an update on the ongoing exercise. Shalat highlighted challenges with the back-end integration between telecommunication companies (telcos) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), expressing concerns about the risk of exposing personal data and potential revenue losses in the telecom sector. With a staggering 207 million active SIM cards in circulation in Nigeria, the need for a seamless and secure integration process becomes paramount. Shalat also emphasized the importance of reviewing the February 9th deadline due to the challenges faced during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, urging government officials to reconsider the timeline. The lack of clarity and inefficiencies in the back-end system pose significant obstacles to achieving the targeted registration numbers, with only about 45 million Nigerians currently registered in the NIMC database. The absence of a clear timeline for resolving the back-end integration issues between telcos and NIMC further exacerbates the uncertainties surrounding the registration process. The inability to accurately map national identity numbers (NINs) to SIM cards complicates the determination of those at risk of disconnection post-deadline. Shalat suggested that the government's decision on the January 19th deadline remains indeterminate, as the actual mapping progress is still unknown. Moving forward, the key to a successful registration process lies in ensuring that all eligible individuals obtain a NIN before imposing a deadline for matching NINs with SIM cards. This phased approach would mitigate the risk of unnecessary disconnections and provide a clearer picture of compliance rates. Transitioning to a discussion on the telecom sector's performance in 2020 and outlook for 2021, Shalat highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and revenue trends. The surge in demand for multiple SIM cards, driven by remote work and online learning requirements, buoyed the sector throughout 2020. Looking ahead to 2021, the looming economic risks associated with a potential 51% revenue drop in the telecom sector due to non-compliance with the registration deadline pose a significant concern. The ripple effects of such a revenue decline could have far-reaching implications for both the industry and auxiliary sectors reliant on telecommunications services. The need for a coordinated approach to address the dual challenges of SIM registration compliance and revenue sustainability underscores the complex interplay between regulatory mandates, technological capabilities, and economic imperatives in Nigeria's telecom landscape.