The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disclosed in its new draft for ‘Business Rules and Operational Processes for Implementation of the National Policy for SIM activation, Replacement and Other Key Telecommunications Operational processes’ that foreigners exempted from enrolling for the National Identity Number will have to request for Subscriber Identity Module activation every six months up to a period of two years.
According to the report, SIM activation for foreigners exempted from enrolling for NIN shall be configured for a period of six months in the first instance and can be renewed further upon request and where the visa is not for a stay of two years and above.
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In the said report, NCC added that: “Foreigners validly transiting through Nigeria or are employed in or reside in Nigeria for less than 24 months are exempted from the mandatory use of NIN requirement. Persons in this category need to provide justification that they will be residing in Nigeria for less than two years.”
If such foreigner failed to request for SIM activation at the end of the six-month period, the SIM would be deactivated. hose staying in the country for more than two years will therefore be required to register for NIN as well as fully register their SIMs.
“NIN is mandatory for foreigners with legal residency status or those living in Nigeria for two years and above. For those who do not already have a NIN, mobile network operators shall capture the resident’s details for NIN issuance as part of the NIN enrolment process, upon presentation of resident’s permits,” it stated.
It was earlier reported that according to the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration, foreigners not staying in Nigeria for up to two years do not need a NIN to register SIM cards.
