The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced September 14, 2024, as the definitive deadline for the linkage of National Identification Numbers (NINs) with Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs). This marks the final push to achieve 100% compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy.
Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, confirmed the deadline in a statement released on Wednesday. The Commission has instructed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the verification and linkage process by September 14, 2024.
As of now, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to their respective NINs, reflecting a commendable compliance rate of 96%, a significant rise from the 69.7% recorded in January 2024. Despite this progress, millions of SIMs remain unlinked, highlighting a substantial gap that the NCC aims to close by the deadline.
The NCC's latest directive emphasizes that effective September 15, 2024, no SIM operating within Nigeria should be without a valid NIN. The Commission has urged all Nigerians who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or those experiencing verification issues, to visit their service providers or use the approved self-service portals to rectify their details before the deadline.
The announcement comes amid concerns raised by the NCC about the sale of pre-registered SIMs and the need to address irregularities in the verification process. The NCC has been collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to combat these issues and safeguard national security.
In July 2024, many telecom subscribers faced disruptions as network operators barred lines not yet verified. This led to significant unrest and protests scheduled for August. In response, the NCC instructed telecom companies to reinstate the blocked lines temporarily to allow subscribers additional time to complete the linkage.
The NIN-SIM linkage initiative, which began in December 2020, has seen multiple deadline revisions, with the most recent deadlines set for April 15 and July 31, 2024. The ongoing policy aims to enhance trust and security in Nigeria’s digital economy by mitigating fraud and cybercrime, promoting financial inclusion, and fostering economic growth.
The NCC also revealed alarming cases of individuals registering over 100,000 SIM cards, highlighting the need for stringent measures against pre-registered SIM sales. The Commission stressed that such activities are criminal offenses and urged the public to report any violations through its toll-free line (622) or social media channels.
