The Federal government has granted Mobile Network Operators approval to establish Sim Swap Centres across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

This is one of the key resolutions of the 4th Review Meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on the NIN-SIM registration.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, said the aim of the approval “is to bring SIM Swap Centres closer to Nigerians regardless of their location.”

He added that: “MNOs that already have Service Centres in important and critical locations in LGAs, were mandated to upgrade these Centres to a level where they can qualify as SIM Swap Centres in order to reduce the challenges associated with the SIM Swap/Replacement process for the citizens.”

Also, the Federal government has extended the NIN enrolment license tenure of mobile networks to five (5) years.

This is aimed at ensuring more Nigerians are duly registered and receive their National Identification Number.

Other resolutions made at the meeting include, mandating the Technical Commitee to complete the development of a new SIM issuance strategy that cannot be compromised.

Also, a Multi-Sectoral Adhoc Committee was tasked to immediately complete the process for new SIM activations for legal residents staying in Nigeria for less than 24 months.