ALL MEDIA24
In a significant move to protect consumers and curb potential security risks, the Nigerian House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Telecommunications to engage with Global System for Communication (GSM) providers, including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and others, to put an end to the reselling of already purchased SIM cards.
The decision came after a motion was presented by Boniface Sunday Emerengwa during a recent plenary session. Emerengwa highlighted the transformative impact of GSM services in Nigeria since its introduction in 2001, enabling access to various services such as mobile banking, which greatly improved the country’s business environment.
However, the motion also brought attention to the issue of SIM card reselling. Currently, GSM providers resell SIM cards that have been paid for by individuals but remain unused for six months. When a fresh subscriber registers for such a pre-registered SIM card, the personal details of the previous owner may still be visible through apps like True Caller. This situation poses serious financial risks to customers, especially in the face of growing cybercrime activities.
To address this concern, the House of Representatives has given the Committee on Telecommunications a two-week mandate to engage with GSM providers and find a solution to prevent the reselling of purchased SIM cards. The committee is expected to execute this assignment promptly and report back to the House for further legislative action.
