Imported User:
The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the sale of registered Subscriber Identity Module ( SIM) cards in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that N6 billion was approved for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), by the National Assembly in 2011 for the registration of SIM cards.
This resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Rep. Abdulrahman Terab (ANPP-Borno) which was unanimously adopted.
Leading the debate, Terab noted that SIM cards registered in other persons’ names were being freely sold on the streets.
According to him, the essence of registering the cards is for security purposes.
The lawmaker noted that billions of naira have been spent on SIM card registration in the country and if the trend was allowed to continue, it would negate the true identity of subscribers.
He said that criminals had taken the advantage of using registered SIM cards to commit crime.
``The unregulated use of mobile phones has been aiding robberies, kidnapping, advanced free fraud and now terrorism,’’he said.
Supporting the motion, Rep. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi (PDP-Enugu) said that majority of members of the sixth House of Representatives opposed the passage of N6 billion for SIM registration.
Ozomgbachi said that the sale of SIM cards on the streets was absurd and should be condemned.
He stressed that NCC should be held accountable for the money appropriated for the registration of SIM cards.
``It is the responsibility of NCC to stop the practice and also account for the N6 billion allocated for SIM registration.’’he said.
Also speaking, Rep. Jerry Manwe (PDP-Taraba) suggested a thorough investigation of the matter to stop the trend.
In his contribution, Rep. Mustapha Khabeeb (PDP-Jigawa) said that the House should ensure that the commission was made to account for the money allocated to it for the exercise.
Similarly, Rep. Peter Edeh (ANPP-Ebonyi) suggested the education of subscribers on the danger of using already registered SIM cards.
He called for the review of the NCC Act to strengthen the operations of the commission.
Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-Lagos) said that until the N6 billion allocated to the commission for the exercise is properly accounted for, the House should not pass the 2012 budget of the commission. (NAN)
