SIM registration: Subscribers condemn unsolicited messages by operators

Ten days to the end of the Subscriber Identity Module registration exercise in the country, telecoms subscribers are uncomfortable with the seemingly endless text messages by telecoms companies urging them to either register their SIMs or complete the registration process.

Many subscribers are pained by the messages because their SIM cards have already been registered.

The complaints, which cut across the mobile operators, intensified after the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, said last month that unregistered SIM cards would be cut off from the telecommunications networks across the country come June 30 this year.

Some subscribers, who claimed to have registered their SIM cards many months ago, were also not left out in the message spree.

Those, who spoke to our correspondent, expressed worries over the delay by the telcos in sending such messages, especially those that had to do with updating data, when the deadline was just some days away.

Text messages sent to subscribers show a wide request by the telcos urging their subscribers to register their SIMs before June 30 to avoid being disconnected.

This format of messaging is common to all the Global System of Mobile telecommunication operators: Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom and MTN.

But MTN, in some of its messages, urged subscribers on its network to provide missing data spotted in the registration process.

The operator also promised to give a bonus credit of N400 to subscribers, who provided such updates.

However, the bonus credit can only be used to call other subscribers on the same network within specified days and time.

The information being demanded include date of birth, state of origin, mother's maiden name and address, among others.

The Manager, Public Relations and Protocol, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Funso Aina, confirmed to our correspondent that the messages emanated from the operator, adding, "The messages are from us."

A subscriber, Mrs. Chinyere Njoku, told our correspondent that she had previously registered her SIM after many weeks of trying to do so.

Njoku, who got a text message from one of the telcos to go and register again, said, "This is just not fair. I did my registration mid last year.

"Telling me to go and register again, when it is obvious that there will be serious rush everywhere, is not just fair."

Another subscriber, Miss Nike Adebola, said she had ignored messages from one of the operators asking her to provide her home address.

According to her, the SIM registration was done months ago and a demand for her home address now is suspicious.

Adebola, who finally sent her address to the operator, got a confirmation and bonus credit to call other numbers on the network for a particular period and time.

The Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the June 30 date was arrived at a meeting between the regulatory agency and telecoms operators.

According to him, the deadline offers a window of opportunity to subscribers who have not registered their SIM cards to do so or be cut off at the expiration of the deadline.

(Punch)