Nigeria Content Online

Nigeria’s leading
telecommunications operator, MTN, has reiterated that the ongoing SIM
registration exercise is free to all categories of its customers. The
company, in a statement in Lagos, said it became necessary to restate
these following reports that some individuals parading themselves as
MTN staff or partners have demanded for money from some customers in
order to carry out the exercise.

MTN emphasised that it is fully bearing the cost of registering new
and existing SIMs on its network and will not under any circumstances
request any form of payment. “Reports of certain individuals requesting
for money from some customers in order to register them are very
disturbing to us,” said Wale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive,
MTN. “Our customers should ensure that they are dealing with genuine
staff or a partner of MTN, who will at all times be ready to supply
proof of their identity. Anyone who asks you for money to register your
SIM is acting illegally and you should make a report immediately.” He
added that MTN had brought the unwholesome development to the attention
of the appropriate security officials, and that the company would
investigate reported cases with a view to preventing a re-occurrence.
“We thank all our esteemed customers for their cooperation so far in
the ongoing exercise,” he said. “We would ask that you continue to
cooperate with us as we seek to comply fully with this directive of the
Federal Government, whose objectives for SIM registration are
laudable.”