Linking SIM Cards To NINs: SERAP Calls For More Consultation, Provision Of Effective Way For Nigerians

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, to consider more consultation and the provision of an effective process for Nigerians who are yet to link their SIM cards to their NINs to do so instead of barring their lines.

SERAP, which made the call in an open letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission also threatened to drag NCC to court if it fails to reverse the directive to network providers to bar the phone lines of Nigerians who have not linked their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NINs).

In the letter dated March 9, 2024, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the civil society organisation said the directive to the network providers to bar Nigerians who have not linked their SIM cards to their NINs is an appalling violation of citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, information and privacy.

According to leadership.ng, SERAP said that no agency has the right to strip the citizens of their basic constitutional rights under the guise of failing to link their SIM cards with their NINs properly or do so timely.

It insisted that the blocking of phone lines of Nigerians must only be a last resort measure, and strictly in line with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], international human rights and due process.

The organisation said the arbitrary barring of people’s phone lines is never a proportionate measure as it imposes disastrous consequences and severely hinders the effective enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights.

SERAP maintained that the blanket measures of barring the phone lines of millions of Nigerians are inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party.

It argued that the arbitrary directive and the barring of the phone lines are extreme measures which must meet the strict legal requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.

SERAP stated that the NCC has also apparently failed to conduct an impact assessment of these extreme measures to avoid their arbitrary or excessive effects.

It further noted that these extreme measures by the NCC go against the regulatory objectives of the Nigerian Communications Act and violate Nigerians’ fundamental human rights.

The organisation said, “the NCC has failed to abide by the Nigerian Constitution, human rights standards, democratic processes, the rule of law and due process safeguards.

“There is no legal justification for the arbitrary barring of phone lines of millions of Nigerians, especially those who have linked their SIM cards with their NINs.

“The directive by the NCC to telecommunications providers to bar the phone lines of Nigerians who have linked their SIM cards with their NINs amounts to unlawful, unnecessary, unjustifiable and disproportionate restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, information and privacy.

Leadership.ng