SIM activation and replacement stall as Nigerian telcos migrate to new identity verification portal

Access to SIM-related services, including SIM swaps, replacements, and new activations, is set to stall as mobile network operators (MNOs) have been mandated to transition to a new identity verification platform by the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC). The development represents another twist in the NIN-SIM linkage.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) noted that the disruption affects all telecom operators in the country and that the migration, as explained by NIMC, is intended to improve the security and efficiency of the national identity verification.

As a result of the sudden technical challenge, real-time activities such as verification processes required for SIM registration, number porting, and other essential services have now been temporarily halted for millions of Nigerian telecom subscribers.

“During this period, MNOs will not be able to support SIM swaps, replacements, activation of new subscribers, and other related services,” the association stated.

The technical disruption now inconveniences telecom subscribers who rely on SIM-related operations for communication, business operations, and digital access. Recall that the NIN-SIM policy mandates that all lines must be linked with the owners’ NIN at the point of registration. The latest development makes it impossible to register any SIM since the NIMC server is inaccessible.

Meanwhile, ALTON advised Nigerians to postpone visits to telecom service centres for such services until the issue is resolved. The association further stressed that its members are working hand-in-hand with the NCC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and other relevant bodies to resolve the integration and potential challenges.

“We understand the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely apologise for the disruption. We remain fully committed to regulatory compliance and will continue to provide timely updates,” ALTON said.

With no precise timeline communicated for the full restoration, the telecom association pledged its commitment towards a reliable, secure, and quality telecom operation in Nigeria.

Also Read: Telcos lose 67.2m subscriptions in one year as data usage rises by 26 per cent.

NIN-SIM linkage

The move comes in light of the existing effort to coordinate digital identity across sectors, while the NIMC portal plays a significant role in the process. The identity verification falls within the SIM card ownership under the NIN-SIM integration project.

The compulsory exercise began in December 2020 when the government of President Muhammadu Buhari directed telecommunication companies to deactivate unregistered SIM cards that were not linked to NIN.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the verification of 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. It also enhances financial inclusion, drives economic growth, and provides a critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital landscape for the citizenry.

Despite long periods of deadline extensions for the linkage of all existing SIMs to owners’ NIN, many phone lines were left unlinked. Last September, the NCC brought the activity to a close, where all unlinked lines were disconnected from the networks. As a direct result of the action, Nigerian telecommunications companies lost a combined total of 67.2 million subscriptions between October 2023 and September 2024, a 30 per cent decline in one year.

As of August 2024, the communications regulator said that over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked, reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96 per cent, a substantial increase from 69.7 per cent in January 2024.

Though the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, declared that all lines in the country have been successfully linked, which explains the closure of existing SIMs’ linkage to users’ NIN.