The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set September 14, 2024, as the suggested deadline for Nigerians to link their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to their National Identity Numbers (NINs). Millions of phone connections in the nation could be disconnected as a result.
The telecom regulator announced the deadline in a statement available to BrandSpur telecom and IT news desk, signed by Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs. It stated that over 153 million SIM cards had been successfully linked to NIN, indicating an impressive 96% compliance rate—a significant increase from 69.7% in January 2024.
However, this demonstrated that millions of lines remain unlinked to NIN. There were 219 million active lines on the MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile mobile networks as of March 2024, according to NCC data.
According to NCC, 100% compliance is the goal by the specified date. This implies that the network operators would prohibit any connections that aren’t linked by September 14. Once the NINs given by the subscribers have been authenticated, many telecom users may still have problems. This goes beyond simply linking.
According to NCC, improving the security and trust of our digital economy requires that all SIM cards be fully linked to NINs.
This strategy encourages more involvement in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services by reducing the risk of fraud and cybercrime and strengthening consumer confidence in digital transactions through the verification of all mobile users. Consequently, this encourages financial inclusion and fuels economic expansion.
Working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NCC has discovered concerning instances in which people had an abnormally large number of SIM cards—some of which were over 100,000.
Following the Commission, it is still dedicated to collaborating with security services and other relevant parties to stop the sale of pre-registered SIM cards to protect the integrity of Nigerian mobile numbers and preserve national security.
Once the NINs given by the subscribers have been authenticated, many telecom users may still have problems. This goes beyond simply linking.
The telecommunications providers claim that anomalies in registration data have been a significant obstacle to verifying millions of users’ NINs.
The statement holds: “To ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024.
“Effective September 15, 2024, 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 statement added.
