Less than two months after Nigerian communication , NCC started the registration of all SIM cards of mobile telephone users, the policy is already drawing a lot of flaks.
Top among issue that has become a source of concern over the policy is that registration of SIM would compromise individual liberty of the phone users.
For instance it is argued that such policy would definitely give users away for surveillance as it facilitates information through eavesdropping into discussions. According to a constitutional lawyer Mr Ola Benjamin, the policy may require constitutional amendment for it to see the light of the day, because it would infringe on users right to freedom of expression and privacy as provided by the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria. According to chapter iv section 39,of the 1999 constitution, “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinion and to received and impart ideas and information without interference. Also every person shall be entitled to own, established and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion”
Another snag to the new NCC policy is that it is argued that not all subscribers of SIM can provide all the needed details required for registration. Part of the details required includes, name of the user, residential address, age, occupation, National identity cards, international passports, driving license etc. There is no doubt that many users especially in the remote areas may not have the basic data that can enable them to register. For instance there are villages where there are no residential address which is easiest among the required data before one can be registered. Some people may not even know their date of birth talkless of providing data like identify card, international passport or driving license. The implication is that a sizeable number of Nigerians may at the end of the day be shut out from using the SIM facility especially those in the villages.
I gather that there is already apprehension in the villages because of the policy. SIM have provided a useful communication links between parents in the villages and their wards in the city. Some people argue that it will derail the growth of the industry which has been on the rise since GSM was introduced. According to Engr Ache Idoko, the truth is that Nigeria has not developed to that extent, there are people in the village that don’t even know how to use GSM very well, which ever way Nigeria should first of all learn to improve the literacy level of their citizens because a lot of them are illiterates some people only use the GSM for making and receiving calls, any other thing is not their businesses . He also postulates that if the government succeed in the policy a lot of people will be excommunicated because some people may not even know that such policy have been introduced.
Idoko however , suggested that if it would eventually take place, it should be done with caution and gradually introduced . Telephone call business centre are also crying foul over the policy as they argued that the policy would shut out their business.
