The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed Mobile Network Operators to immediately suspend the sale and activation of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).

This comes ahead of an audit of the Subscriber Registration Database.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Director of Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, said the directive will be in effect until the audit is completed, according to Punch.

He noted that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, instructed the NCC to conduct the exercise.

However, an exemption might be granted if the federal government approves.

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NCC warned that non-compliance by network operators could lead to the withdrawal of operating license.

The inspection is to ensure that the firms comply with quality standards and requirements.

The director explained that the objective of the audit exercise was to ensure compliance to set quality standards and requirements by mobile network operators.

According to him, the directive became necessary in view of the preponderance of pre-registered SIMs with the attendant security implications associated with the use of same to facilitate criminal activities.