By Charles Mgbolu

Former Member of the Presidential Committee on National Security, Hon. Leo Uche Okonkwo-Okom, has urged members of the House of Reps to treat the issue of registration of SIM cards by the Nigerian Communications Commission as a matter of national security importance to the nation and its citizens.

Honourable Okonkwo_Okom, who was reacting to the latest drama at the House about the SIM Card budget, urged the leadership of the House to take control of the process as it would appear that those who are allowed to speak on the matter are not sufficiently informed about the need for the registration, by making undue references to irrelevant issues.

“Taking the security situation in the country into context, especially as it affects the South East, and given the fact that telephone use and abuse has been implicated in all cases of security breach, one would have expected every hand to be on deck to support every measure to address this situation.

“It is therefore strange that anybody charged with the responsibility for approving the implementation of any measure aimed at reducing crime and criminalities would hesitate in addressing the matter with the urgency and seriousness that it deserves”, he said.

He urged the House to show support to Mr. President in his efforts  and promises to reduce crime rate in the country, rather than engage in endless debate.

The former chief Whip of the Anambra State House of Assembly, said he does not expect the Honourable Members to be swayed by the alleged lobbying by some interest groups to stall the approval of the budget for SIM Card registration as it is irresponsible and unpatriotic for such interest groups to be joking with such issues that border on security.

He said since the Commission responded to the request of the security agencies, and carried out a consultation process involving the security agencies, there is no point prevaricating on the matter which touches on the important issue of national security.

“Since the agency is empowered by law to carry out such a programme, and in so far as the Commissions is not asking government for money but rather using its internally generated revenues to implement the programme, there is no good reason for the continued delay of the budget”, he said, wondering why some members are arguing that operators are supposed to do it when the operators have already declared it will take them more than three years to complete.

Hon. Okonkwo_Okom, urged the House to reflect on the challenges faced by the citizens and security agencies in the South East who are faced with endless cases of kidnapping, robberies and sundry crimes in which telephones play a part.

“We need to approach this matter with the seriousness that it deserves. The leadership of the House must step in to do the right thing. If the Senate has approved the budget, and both Houses have gone to the Conference and approved the budget, it is incumbent on the leadership to handle the matter in the interest of the harmonious relationship between the two chambers”, he said.