Pantami explains why NIN-SIM linkage has failed to stamp out ransom collection by bandits, kidnappers

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has explained why bandits and kidnappers still negotiate for ransom through phone calls despite the linkage of National Identification Numbers (NIN) with the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards.

Pantami, however, said that the trend has reduced significantly since the introduction of the policy.

The minister gave the explanation in Umuahia, Abia State, during the World National Identify Day celebration, noting that since the exercise commenced, there has been a notable drop in the number of calls by fraudsters to unsuspecting phone users.

He said that people should not expect innovation to wipe out evil overnight, arguing that it is a gradual process.

The issue of Kidnappers’ calls has actually reduced with respect to ransom by phones. The sanitation of the existing system cannot be done overnight. It’s an ongoing process.

Those 419 calls we normally get most of the time have actually reduced because most of the numbers now are attached to the NIN.

”It needs a little bit more time before the entire system will be completely sanitised. But a tremendous impact has been made so far.

”At least for the first time, most people are scared of doing certain things with their phone numbers – making malicious calls.”

Pantami, who was represented by the Director of Research and Development at the National Information Technology Development Agency, Dr Collins Agu, regretted that the public outcry that greeted the blocking of unregistered SIM cards slowed down efforts toward sanitising the telecoms system.

Recall that when the Minister came and blocked a lot of numbers, there was an outcry by the telecoms, and he relaxed a bit on humanitarian grounds.

“That is also slowing down the whole process because if he had gone the hardliner way, more would have criticized him. It’s a gradual process but some progress has been made.”

The minister further said that he brought a lot of innovation in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector of the country.

“When Professor Pantami came on board the enrollment at NIMC (National Identify Management Commission) tripled. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, ICT contributed 18.7% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

He further explained why he removed NIMC from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), saying it was to enhance its productivity.

He was able to get NIMC out of the office of the SGF because you can’t have a digital economy without a robust ID system. ID creates trust, traceability and transparency.”

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