Nigerian phone subscribers have been given a last window of opportunity to register their identity following a September 14 deadline set by the telecoms regulator for the NIN-SIM linkage.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says on Wednesday that it has officially approved the final deadline for phone users in the country to comply with the requirement to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs).
Mr Reuben Muoka, NCC Director of Public Affairs says the that a deadline set for September 14, 2024 has been set for the final phase of the NIN-SIM linkage process for those phone subscribers who have not yet completed the process.
This compliance, according to Muoka, aims to verify all mobile users, enhance trust in digital transactions, reduce the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and promote increased participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services. Ultimately, this will foster financial inclusion and drive economic growth in the country.
NCC: NIN-SIM linkage peaks at 153
To date, the NCC says it has successfully linked over 153 million SIMs to NINs, representing a compliance rate of 96% that reflects an increase from 69.7% in January 2024. Previously, the Commission had set a deadline for disconnecting SIMs that were not linked to NINs, which was temporarily enforced before being lifted following a review by the telecoms regulator.
Working with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), NCC says it has uncovered instances of individuals possessing an unusually high number of SIM cards, some exceeding 100,000.
NCC says it is dedicated to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to combat the sale of pre-registered SIMs to safeguard national security and ensure the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
To ensure strict adherence to the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC, according to its spokesman, has instructed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024. The telecoms regulator says It expects that every SIM card in operation in Nigeria will be associated with a valid NIN.
“Effective September 15, 2024, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN,” Muoka says.
“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 also reminds the public that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offences punishable by imprisonment and fines. We encourage citizens to report any such activities to the Commission via our toll-free line (622) or through our social media platforms,” the telecoms regulator says.
In July this year, the telecoms regulator stepped in after many telecoms subscribers’ numbers were blocked by their telecoms service providers in compliance with the NCC rules of the NIN-SIM linkage.
“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 in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs. Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM,” the NCC said in a statement at the time.
“Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM which 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 since reviewed the deadline a few times; April 15, 2024 was set as the deadline for the full network barring of 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 with verified NINs.”
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