Telecom giants, Globacom and Etisalat have been fined N14.4 million by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), after both organizations contravened its directive on SIM card deactivation.

The breakdown shows that Globacom would pay N7.4 million, while Etisalat would pay N7 million, totalling N14.4 million fine for both operators.

In separate letters dated August 26, 2015, addressed to the CEOs of Globacom and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited, also known as Etisalat, the NCC said: “The Commission, in consideration of the prevalence of infractions and the impact of the contravention on the national database of telecommunications subscribers, we hereby impose sanction on Globacom Nigeria and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited.”

The letters were signed by the Head, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement at NCC, Mr. Efosa Idehen, on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umaru Danbatta.

Part of the letter sent to Globacom, read: “That Globacom, should, pursuant to regulation 20(1) of the registration of telephone subscribers of 2011, pay to the NCC, the sum of N200,000 only for each of the 37 pre-registered SIM cards found active on your network in contravention of the regulations, totaling N7.4 million.”

Part of the letter sent to Etisalat, read: “That Etisalat should, pursuant to regulation 20(1) of the registration of telephone subscribers of 2011, pay to the NCC, the sum of N200,000 only for each of the 35 pre-registered SIM cards found active on your network in contravention of the regulations, totaling N7million.”

NCC had on August 4, 2015, directed all telecoms operators to commence deactivation of pre-registered SIM cards and gave them seven days to do so or face sanction. At the expiration of the seven day ultimatum, which ended August 11, 2015, NCC commenced monitoring for compliance, and warned that any operator found wanting, shall be sanctioned according to the number of pre-registered SIM cards found on its network. In keeping to its words as a strict regulator, the NCC decided to fine Globacom and Etisalat, based on the findings from its monitoring team.

The ultimatum, it was gathered, was the fallout of a meeting among office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Department of State Service (DSS), the network operators and the NCC.