TechCabal Daily – No more new SIM cards in Nigeria

We didn’t see this coming. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stopped Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Services (ISPs) from selling or activating SIMs.

Why this move?

The NCC intends to verify if all MNOS have followed the required standards for SIM registration.

Earlier this year, the NCC had asked all subscribers to get their National Identity Numbers (NIN) and submit to the network operators, a deadline it later shifted to 1st December 2020

Deja Vu?

Yes, this looks like it’s happened before. As Victor explained in an edition of the next wave.
“In 2010, the Nigerian government gave an ultimatum to telcos to properly register subscribers on its network or disconnect them. Five years later, MTN still had 5.2 million unregistered and connected subscribers.

So in November 2015, the Nigerian government slammed the MTN Group with a fine of $5.2 billion; arguably the largest in a historical context.

But the SIM card registration system that MTN got into hot water for is still in shambles, and perfunctory at best. This is plainly a case of a system failure from the NCC.”

Looking at the current situation of things, Nigerians have had a hard time meeting the new SIM registration requirements.

Although it should take only between 1-5 working days for NIN to be ready after registration, the National identity Management commission has only enrolled about 36 million Nigerians since it started the registration process in 2012. A far cry from the over 180 million network subscribers recorded by NCC.

What might happen next?

Telecos being sanctioned again, a new deadline for subscribers to get their National Identity Numbers (NIN) and submit to the network operators.

Zoom out: The demand for the inclusion of National Identity in the registration process by the NCC, although noble is beyond the Telecos and citizens. It involves the NCC working together with the National identity Management commission to ensure the NINs are discharged efficiently. Afterall citizens can’t give the telecos NINs they don’t have.

“Send or receive money instantly, in any currency, free of charge, only with Barter By Flutterwave. Start here“

Every week Alex’s The BackEnd explores the product development process in African tech.

This week Alex spoke to Dare Okoudjou and his MFS Africa team on their mission to demystify mobile money transfer within, into and out of Africa.

Dares says, “In the US they all think Africa is one country, we might as well not disappoint them. We provide that one API that makes Africa look like one country.”

MFS Africa is working behind the scene, as most mobile money users in the 37 countries MFS Africa operates in will never hear of them. Unlike situations where a Paystack or Flutterwave brand asset is visible during transactions, MFS Africa doesn’t pop up on a sender or receiver’s checkout screen.

Read: The BackEnd: MFS Africa is building Africa’s largest money transfer network

Rise, the wealth management app that allows Nigerians to seamlessly build a portfolio of US stocks, US real estate and Fixed income with a minimum of $10 have launched a new app.
To get started, sign up, create a plan based on your risk appetite and financial goals, select how frequently you’d like to invest, and fund your plan. Rise takes care of the rest. Click this link to start investing with Rise.

The final shortlist for the AppsAfrica.com Innovation Awards has been announced. The Apps Africa awards celebrates the best in mobile and tech from across Africa.

The sixth edition of the awards attracted over 500 submissions from 51 countries, with solutions launched by start-ups, established ventures, and corporates.

Learn more about who the finalists are here

This week, Kenya’s Sunculture raised $14million from Energy Access Ventures. Lorax Capital Partners also acquired a minority stake in Dsquares through its LCP Fund II.
In other funding and acquisition deals news this week:

• Egyptian sportswear startup raised an undisclosed investment from InnLife and Kuwaiti investors
• SA’s inQuba secured a round of funding from Knife Capital and Rand Merchant Bank
• Payments and loyalty services provider Zeal Rewards raised a six-figure seed round from an angel investor.

That’s it for the week!

Stay tuned and follow @TC_Insights on Twitter for more updates.

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