A member of the Computer Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Idika Ocha, and yesterday in Abuja, advised Members of the House of Representatives opposed to the proposed SIM Card registration to give consideration to the lives and safety of Nigerian citizens above whatever other consideration.

Some Members of the House of Reps last week stood against the passage of the N6.1 billion SIM Card registration budget proposal of the NCC after the Senate had not only approved the budget, but has also approved the harmonization of the budget with the relevant committees of the both Houses of the National Assembly.

He reminded the lawmakers that international terrorism, fraud, robbery and other crimes often involve extensive communications though text messages or voice calls.

“The Madrid bomb was detonated using a SIM card.  Back home in Nigeria, we are also witnessing increasing incidents of threats and frauds launched daily on our citizens using mobile phone platforms.

The remarkable upsurge in violent crimes in Nigeria like kidnapping – with criminals demanding ransom mainly through mobile telephone calls  have contributed to the  reason why the Federal Government added its voice in calling for the registration of SIM cards”, he noted.

Dr. Ocha who expressed surprise over the latest action of some members of the House which stalled the much awaited commencement of the registration of SIM cards in the country argued that security agencies, consumer advocacy groups, service providers and experts, agreed that the Commission is best placed to carry out the registration.

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