Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Communications Commission has said, that foreigners not staying in Nigeria for up to two years may not need a National Identification Number, NIN, to register SIM cards.
The regulatory body made the clarification in its Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.
It said; “Foreigners validly transiting through Nigeria or are employed in or reside in Nigeria for less than 24 months are exempted from the mandatory use of NIN requirement.
“Persons in this category need to provide justification that they will be residing in Nigeria for less than two years.”
However, NIN is compulsory for foreigners who have legal residency, or those who have lived in Nigeria for two years and above.
“NIN is mandatory for foreigners with legal residency status or those living in Nigeria for two years and above. For those who do not already have a NIN, operators will capture the resident for NIN as part of the enrolment process, upon presentation of resident permit.
“Foreigners with visitor’s visas (with visa less than two years) do not require a NIN. Operators will capture the following on their records; – International passport bio-data page and visa page.
“Foreigners with diplomatic visas (including family diplomatic visas) will also require a NIN for their personal telephone lines if they are staying in Nigeria for two or more years.
“Those staying less than two years will require the following for registration of their personal telephone lines: international passport bio-data page and letter from embassy indicating that their stay is for less than two years.
“For embassies and diplomatic missions: The data page containing the passport number of the diplomatic passport of the Head of Mission/Embassy along with a Letter of Request signed by the ambassador or its equivalent for registration of the official telephone lines of the embassy /mission in Nigeria shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification and confirmation and registration of the SIMs; SIM cards of the diplomatic missions are to be linked with a Corporate Diplomatic Identification Number, which will be unique to each diplomatic mission.
“Each mission will also be responsible for managing the lines and allocating them internally.”
It added that the Head of Mission would serve as the Telecom Master or Point of contact for the mission.