Nigeria orders companies to stop selling, registering SIM cards : Statement

LAGOS : Nigeria has directed all telecommunications firms, including giants such as Airtel and MTN, to stop selling SIM cards while it audits rule compliance, according to a statement from the Nigeria Communications Commission.

The statement did not indicate how long the audit would take but said the NCC could grant exemptions “where it is absolutely necessary.”

“Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are hereby directed to immediately suspend the sale, registration and activation of new SIM Cards until the audit exercise is concluded, and government has conveyed the new direction,” the statement said.