Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, noting that while the exercise successfully removed unregistered SIMs, the Commission cannot control the names used by subscribers during registration.
“There is no unregistered SIM operating on the network as at today, but there may be people using names they did not register with, apparently to mask their identities. We cannot control the names attached to each SIM, as they reflect what the owners used at the time of registration with their respective operators,” Dr. Maida said.
He warned that it is an offence to use false identities to make or receive calls in Nigeria, stressing that the NCC has strengthened measures to safeguard integrity and stability in the telecoms sector.
To further empower consumers, the NCC will in September launch a public mapping tool that will allow subscribers to compare operators’ performance, service quality, and tariff plans by location. The initiative, Maida explained, will enable Nigerians to make informed choices about which provider best suits their needs.
Speaking on broader reforms, the EVC said the Commission had revised corporate governance guidelines for telecom operators, requiring them to publish audited reports to enhance transparency, boost investor confidence, and strengthen public trust in the sector.
“The need for good corporate governance requires that operators in the industry must provide audited reports to boost investors’ confidence and earn the trust and confidence of their customers,” Maida stated.
He further defended the Commission’s recent approval of tariff adjustments, noting that the industry had not seen a cost-reflective review in over a decade. The decision, he said, was taken with consideration for both operators’ sustainability and the protection of consumers’ interests.
On infrastructure security, Maida revealed plans to engage state governors on protecting telecom installations within their states and reducing multiple taxation on operators. Such collaboration, he noted, would improve service delivery and strengthen national security.