SERAP Drags Buhari To Court For Blocking SIMS Not Yet Linked To NIN.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged President Buhari and the Federal Government to court for blocking persons yet to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

According to reports SERAP said the government order was inconsistent with the requirements of legality.

According to a law suit FHC/L/CS/711/2022 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining President Buhari and the Minister of Communication, Isa Pantami, from the continuous blockage of lines.

It demanded adequate infrastructure and logistics to allow Nigerians, including persons with disabilities, the elderly and persons living in remote areas, to capture their data and conclude registration to obtain NIN.

The organization argues that barring lines was inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international obligations to respect, protect, and promote socio-economic rights.

Also Read: FG Orders That Unlinked NIN Sims Should Be Blocked From Making Calls.

Noting that access to telecommunications services is a condition sine qua non for the exercise of human rights, SERAP says the decision to block people from making calls “is discriminatory and a travesty”.

Recall that the Federal Government had directed telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines. Millions of subscribers are affected.