The deadline for the registration of mobile telephone users in the country, which started on March 28, 2011, may not be extended beyond tomorrow.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) commenced the registration of Simulated Identification Module cards, popularly known as SIM cards, to create a biometric-backed database of mobile telecommunication users in the country.

But barely two days to the expiration of the project, LEADERSHIP investigation revealed, a lot of subscribers have not have been captured.

Our correspondents who went round parts of Abuja and Lagos metropolis reported large crowds in some of the registration centres.

In some parts of Gwarimpa Estate, there were long queues of yet-be-be-registered mobile phone users under the scorching sun.

Similar scenes were reported in Garki, Apo, Maitama, Asokoro and Wuse, where subscribers almost overwhelmed the registration officials.

At the waiting hall of the NCC headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, which was used as a registration centre, there was a steady stream of mobile phone users.

Some of the subscribers who spoke called for the extension of the exercise, noting that a lot of Nigerians had not been captured. They complained that many of those who registered with the service providers could not get confirmation that their numbers and biometric details were correctly taken.

A former director in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, Mr. Olusoji Sobo, said he had participated in the initial registration carried out by the service providers.

However, when he went for confirmation, he was told that his number was yet to be upgraded and was later advised to re-register.

He said, "My wife and I registered our numbers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, and that was shortly after the service providers started the exercise.

"Not long after, the NCC started its own registration. My wife and I again went out to register and we were told that if we had registered with the service providers, we should go home, and we did.

But later, we received a report that my wife's number was registered against somebody bearing a name from the northern part of the country. I also received a call from MTN saying that I have not registered at all.

"Later, they called and told me that my number was not upgraded. That is why I have come to the NCC office to find out what has happened."

In Lagos, our correspondents reported up to 83 per cent of subscribers may have registered their SIM cards.

Out of 100 respondents polled in busy areas of the city including Ikeja, Alausa, Obalende and Ikotun, 83 said they had registered, while 17 said they were yet to do so.

A registration agent at Ikeja, Ronke Olaleye, said the response of subscribers in the area had been very positive.

Reacting to complaints made by subscribers, the NCC's head of media and public relations, Mr. Reuben Muoka, said there was no possibility of extending the registration deadline.

He maintained that the commission gave a six-month window for the exercise, but noted that many Nigerians failed to avail themselves of the opportunity. Muoka said: "As I sit here, I don't have any information on the possible extension of deadline for SIM registration, because the exercise started on March 28.

We had a six-month window to conclude the registration.

"I can tell you that we placed jingles in local languages all over the federation during a one-month interval.

We also went on interviews and phone-in programmes where we advertised we were coming to a particular station at a particular point and fielded questions from the people on various issues.
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"So I can tell you that we covered every nook and cranny of Nigeria. If there is any place where people say they didn't hear about the SIM card registration, it must be a lie.

"I can say that it is a lie because we went everywhere, and you know that, in Nigeria, people do not take a lot of things seriously. I

will not deny that there are people who, as we speak, do not understand why they have to register their SIM cards. I also know that there are people who will start rushing one hour to the end."

He said the commission was aware of the tendency of many Nigerians to engage in a last-minute rush for participation in public activities.

"We hope everybody gets registered before the 28th of September. But as I speak with you now, we are standing on the 28th September deadline," he said.