Four major Nigerian mobile network operators say they have deactivated all unregistered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in compliance with orders by regulatory authorities.

This follows the expiry of the SIM card registration exercise on June 30 and subsequent threats by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to operators that allegedly did not cut off services to unregistered clients.

Subsequently, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (Natcoms) has appealed to the NCC and the Nigerian government to extend the deadline by three months.

But all four telecoms firms in the country-MTN, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat have said they are complying with all NCC directives, despite calls not to do so by the likes of Natcoms.

Airtel Nigeria’s head of value added services, Deepark Srivastava, has said all unregistered lines on its network have been deactivated.

“As a law-abiding firm, we shall comply with all regulations, including disconnection of unregistered SIMs,” he said.

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria’s corporate service executive, Akinwale Goodluck, has said MTN has also deactivated all unregistered SIMs but those deactivated can reconnect at any of their outlets.

“We have informed affected subscribers that they can reconnect their lines by visiting the nearest MTN Service Centre, Connect Store or SIM registration point.

"We have set up registration points in several places for this purpose,” he said.

Steve Evans, chief executive officer of Etisalat Nigeria, even commended the NCC for taking the decision and also for their decision to grant operators an extra two months to persuade customers to register and reconcile and eliminate any problems with the data collected from customers during registration.

“I do not think the NCC could have done any more than they have to eliminate the impact on genuine customers. The Fine issue is just to keep everyone on line," Evans said.

Etisalat, he said, worked closely with the NCC to ensure that the customers' needs were prioritised even in the case of SIM card registration and Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

Globacom, in a press statement, said it was willing to comply with all NCC directives on SIM card registration.