Telecom
NCC Announces Jan 2010 Deadline for SIM Registration
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has stated that by next January, no Nigerian would carry phones that are not properly registered and the owner identified.
This is in the light of SIM card registration process initiated by the Commission at the request of security agencies in the country, which would commence soon.
Ndukwe, who disclosed this at the public hearing on SIM card registration in Abuja last week, requested the National Assembly to mandate the NCC to speed up the process as the Commission had already held wide industry consultations and consultative fora to look at all the issues involved in the process.
The NCC boss said the report of the industry wide committee, which made recommendations about the process of the registration, had already submitted its report to the NCC board upon which the board has approved the process.
He said the draft bill under consideration can become an amendment to the Communications Act, adding that the existing NCC law has substantial powers for it to implement the process with the support of the National Assembly. But majority of the members of the House Committee on Communications had insisted that the action of the Committee would still need the support of the House through proper legislation.
Ndukwe listed the lack of identity management system as a major huddle in the process but that arrangements have been reached with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to leverage and support the process of registration that would make it possible for the registration of SIM cards to be implemented even in the rural areas.
All the operators at the public hearing submitted to the Committee that they preferred the registration process to be implemented through the regulation of the NCC, rather than a new set of laws to be enacted by the National Assembly as the law making process may not be very sensitive to time and technical requirements of such a registration process.
The operators detailed the series of consultations that have gone on in the industry since the NCC hosted consultative forum, with the participation of security agencies and other relevant bodies such as the National NIMC and similar agencies.
Hon. Dave Salako, chairman of the House Committee on Communications, stated that it was only 3 days to the public hearing that the Committee was informed of the level of work already done by the NCC in this regard but said there is need for the parliament to play its role. “The regulator had taken this battle up. The Commission has started it but it does not make laws. The law makers will make the laws to support the process.”
Sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Akeem Arole Fancy, said non registration of SIM cards constitutes a threat to national security, adding that the NCC needs the mandate of the House; while commending the Commission and Engr. Ndukwe for the great job in contributing to the Nigerian economy through efficient regulation of the industry.
“To us, this is one of the best regulators in this country. The NCC can continue with its process of registration that it has started but we need to strengthen them by either an amendment to the existing law or a different law, as this process is cumbersome and may require the backing of the law,” he stated.
Hon. Jerry Manwe, former chairman of the House Committee on Communications, warned that the position of the NCC should be well understood because there are ways that the matter would be handled and it would scare the investors.
MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Netflix has announced plans to invest more than €1 billion in Spanish film and television productions over the next four years, reinforcing its commitment to Spain as a key creative hub in Europe.
The announcement was made by co-chief executive Ted Sarandos at an event held at Netflix’s production studios near Madrid, celebrating the company’s 10-year presence in the country.
Sarandos emphasized that the investment would contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, create jobs, and enable the streaming platform to produce more local content. He was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in unveiling the initiative.
Netflix first established its international production studios in Madrid in 2019, following the success of the Spanish-language hit series Money Heist.
Since then, its 22,000-square-meter facility has become one of Netflix’s major production centers within the European Union.
The company currently supports over 20,000 jobs in Spain, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global entertainment.
The investment reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in European markets through original content and local talent.
Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has raised alarms over a new wave of advanced cyberattacks targeting Android mobile phones through a malware campaign dubbed Tria Stealer.
The malicious software is designed to infiltrate Android devices, hijack messaging accounts, intercept One-Time Passwords (OTPs), to steal sensitive personal and financial data.
According to ngCERT, Tria Stealer spreads primarily through deceptive tactics, such as fake event invitations distributed via popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Unsuspecting users are enticed to download an infected (APK) file, often disguised as a harmless system application, to evade detection.
Once installed, Tria Stealer requests extensive permissions, including access to SMS, call logs, and app notifications.
It immediately commences data harvesting activities, sending stolen information to a Command and Control (C2) server operated via Telegram bots.
This trojan spreads through fake links, usually disguised as wedding or event invites, and tricks users into downloading malicious APK files
“Account takeover of messaging platforms. Impersonation of victim for fraudulent money transfer requests. Compromise of banking and financial applications. Identity theft and credential harvesting.”
In plain terms, if your phone is compromised, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Your financial apps are vulnerable, your reputation could be ruined by impersonation and even simple personal messages could be twisted into tools for scams.
Here’s what users should be doing now:
Don’t download apps outside the official Play Store.
Be suspicious of random invites or links, even from people you know.
Turn on 2FA for everything—banking, emails, social platforms.
Get a reputable antivirus and keep it updated.
If you run an organisation, you should already be taking this seriously.
ngCERT’s guidance says you should raise awareness, monitor mobile devices, and not let your team click on unverified links.
“Deploy network monitoring for suspicious outbound connections to known C2 domains,” it said, meaning, keep an eye on every digital door in and out.
This isn’t one of those cases where you wait to see if it affects you. By the time you realise it, it may already be too late.
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