Human Rights and pro-democracy groups have united in a call for the Nigerian Federal Government to take punitive measures against Global Mobile Service (GSM) providers operating within the country. Accusing these telecom companies of flouting regulatory guidelines, the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) in the South East Zone convened in Enugu, issuing a joint statement after their year-end meeting.

In the statement signed by High Chief (Dede) Uzor A Uzor, the groups condemned GSM providers for fostering criminal activities in Nigeria through their intense competition and relentless pursuit of profits. Specifically, they pointed out the service providers’ disregard for the government’s directive mandating the registration of SIM cards, an initiative aimed at curbing crime in the nation.

The groups alleged that these telecom giants blatantly disregarded the regulation by selling and activating unregistered SIM cards in illicit markets across Nigeria, including Kano Market, Onitsha Emeka Offor Market, Aba Market, Alaba International, Kaduna, among others. According to their claims, individuals purchasing these unregistered SIM cards in bulk from these markets leverage them for various criminal endeavors, such as fraudulent activities associated with internet scams (“yahoo criminal activities”). They asserted that some network providers exploit a single set of registration details to register over a thousand SIM cards solely for financial gain, hindering traceability of these cards to specific users.

The rights organizations highlighted the prevalence of unregistered SIM cards in the hands of kidnappers and other high-profile criminals, making it challenging, if not impossible, to trace their communications or identities during criminal activities, notably ransom demands.

Advocating for government intervention, the groups urged a thorough investigation into major GSM service providers like MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. They emphasized the necessity for punitive actions against any provider found guilty of flouting SIM registration regulations, asserting that only stringent government oversight and penalties could address the issue effectively.

This call for scrutiny and accountability of GSM providers reflects the growing concern over their role in facilitating criminal activities due to the proliferation of unregistered SIM cards across Nigeria’s public markets.