SERAP, known as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has commenced another tug of war with the Federal Government of Nigeria, following the decision to block the Subscribers Identification/Identity Module, SIM of no fewer than seventy-two million subscribers in the country.
The accountability group, this time, is urging the government to reverse the decision it has already taken to strike out SIM card users that have not yet linked their National Identification Number, NIN, to their phone cards.
They sent their message directly to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to instruct the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to immediately reverse the decision to block over 72 million active telecommunication subscribers from making calls on their phones.
SERAP Letter Reads in Part:
As contained in the open letter issued by SERAP to the Buhari-led administration, dated April 9, 2022, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Blocking people from making calls undermines their ability to communicate freely and associate with others. It infringes on their rights to freedom of expression and family life, as well as socio-economic rights. The decision will have a chilling effect, dissuading free expression of ideas and information.”
They addressed other related issues in the letter and are awaiting the government’s reply within a given period for their demands to be met.
