NCC Debunks Report on 3 Million New Telephone Lines in Q1 2020 Despite Ban on SIM Card Sale

In its bid to promote transparency and provide accurate data to telecoms stakeholders, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has debunked the report on three million new telephone lines recorded in the first quarter of 2021 as reported by an online media report.

NCC noted that the online media report alleged that mobile telephony subscriptions in Nigeria somehow grew by 3,000,000 new subscribers in the first quarter of 2021, despite the suspension on the registration of new subscribers which took effect from December 9, 2020, and was only lifted in May 2021.

“The Ericsson Mobility Report cited in the online publication is essentially a forecast of trends based on Ericsson’s analysis and does not refer to the NCC or any official channel as the source for its data and/or projections”, the commission said.

Reacting to this in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, he stressed that it is inaccurate that Nigeria recorded 3million new telephone lines in the 1st Quarter of 2021 as stated in the media report.

Adinde, however urged stakeholders to always check for updated information on the regulator website, noting that NCC and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are the only authoritative sources of authentic data on the Nigerian telecommunications sector.

ALSO READ: NCC to Task MNOs on Compulsory, Free Trackers On Mobile Devices for Children Safety Online – Reps Move Motion

“We wish to use this opportunity to clarify that the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Bureau of Statistics are the only authoritative sources of authentic data on the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Indeed, the Commission is well aware of the critical need to make accurate and up-to-date data available to all Stakeholders.

“Indeed, as a matter of corporate policy and consistent with international best practice, relevant data and statistics are transparently reported and regularly updated on the Commission’s website (< https://www.ncc.gov.ng/statistics-reports/industry-overview >) for free use by interested Stakeholders.

“The Commission encourages all Stakeholders to visit its website for authentic data on the sector and to refer all doubts to its Public Affairs Department to avoid unnecessary controversy and/or inadvertently misleading other Stakeholders who may rely on such reports.

“The Commission also urges Stakeholders to disregard any information on subscriber data different from those presented in the Commission’s website”, he clarified.