Veteran journalist and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, has lambasted the Nigerian Government for banning the sale of new sim cards.
The Federal Government through the ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, had recently suspended the sale, registration and activation of SIM cards following the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage.
But Momodu is of the view that the decision has rendered not less than two million Nigerian youth jobless.
The former presidential candidate described the decision as unreasonable and cruel, wondering how a country could shut down its economy because of mere national identity registration.
“How can a country shut down economic activities for months by banning the sale of new sim cards for voice and data because of a mere NIN registration!!” Momodu tweeted.
“Why are we so unreasonably cruel in a country with an army of unemployed youths… We need deliverance…”
The Federal Government on Tuesday extended the National Identity Number, NIN, registration deadline by 8 weeks
“The ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integration exercise has been extended by 8 weeks, with a new deadline of April 6, 2021,”
The statement said.
This development means that Sim cards dealers will at least have to wait for another 8 weeks before doing business unless the government rescinds its decision.