The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a new deadline for all telco subscribers to link their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to their National Identity Numbers (NINs).
The NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024, to ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy. Consequently, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN.
“We urge all members of the public who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or who have faced issues due to verification mismatches, to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline. Alternatively, the approved self-service portals are available for this purpose”, the NCC said.
According to a statement shared with Technext, the country has witnessed a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s 2020 policy to link all SIMs to users’ NINs. According to the telecoms regulator, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked, reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96%, a substantial increase from 69.7% in January 2024.
The NCC also restated that verifying all mobile users strengthens confidence in digital transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and supports greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services.
According to the NCC this, in turn, promotes financial inclusion and drives economic growth.
“As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 per cent compliance. The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy”, the NCC said.
The compulsory NIN-SIM linkage exercise began in December 2020 when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.
Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline a few times; April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details. This deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified.
Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked.
NIN-SIM verification: New deadline follows NCC’s immediate reactivation order
Recall that last month, the NCC ordered that telco companies suspend the suspension of SIM/numbers of subscribers who have not connected their NINs with their SIMs.
According to a statement by the telecoms regulator gave the order following the challenges that the recent blockages have caused:
“The consumer is our priority, therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend because of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs”, the NCC said.
The statement also noted that this grace period will be limited: “Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM”, it said. The statement did not however state a new deadline.
Before the order, a protest broke out at the MTN office in Osogbo, the Osun state capital following the telecommunication company’s decision to block sim cards that are yet to link their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to their sim cards.
In a video that made the rounds on social media, a large group of people can be seen setting up blockades in front of the MTN office, preventing commuters from passing through.
This followed the mass blocking exercise by MTN a day before. Many trooped out to MTN offices in their numbers to unblock their lines. Many are also taking swipes at the company for mass blocking lines without warning and demanding a reinstatement.
The protesters can be heard lampooning the company for blocking their cards, insisting they weren’t even given any warning or message.
Numerous subscribers took to social media to decry the telecom’s decision to bar their telephone lines over NIN-SIM linkage without prior warning over the weekend. Many users of the MTN especially detailed how they woke up to the reality that they could not make or receive telephone calls or access the Internet.
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