Court bars FG from blocking SIM cards, extends NIN registration

By our reporter| The Federal Government was on Tuesday barred from blocking SIM cards not linked to National Identity Numbers next month by Lagos High Court.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, last year directed telecom operators to block all SIM cards not linked to NIN by April 9, 2021.

But human rights lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, filed an originating motion against the federal government and asked the court to stop the Nigerian Communications Commission from disconnecting all SIM Cards not linked to NINs.

Ubani sought four reliefs including an order that the two-week ultimatum is inadequate and will not only cause him hardship but will also infringe on his fundamental right to freedom of speech and right to own property as provided under sections 39(1) and 44(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He equally sought an order of the court extending the deadline.

Delivering judgment on March 23, 2021, Justice M.A Onyetenu, ordered that the deadline be extended by two months from the day of the judgement.

The court also ruled that the ultimatum of April 9, 2021, be halted as the timeline is grossly inadequate and will not only cause severe hardship, but will likely infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39(1)(2) and Section 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge further declared that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cases in Nigeria presently, the deadline given to over 200 million Nigerians to register their SIM cards with NIN, will lead to a rush, thereby resulting in clustering of Nigerian citizens in a NIN registration centre, subjecting them to the possibility of easily contracting COVID-19.

“I, therefore, make the following orders: An order halting the deadline ultimatum of 9/4/21 given by the 1st (Federal Government) 3rd (NCC) and 4th (Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy) respondents to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity Numbers at the expiration of deadline, the Judge ruled.

“An order directing the 1st, 3rd, and 4th respondents to extend the deadline for the registration of SIM cards with NIN for at least another two months from the date of this judgment.”