NIN-SIM Linkage: NCC announces September 14 as final deadline
Nigerian Communications Commission NCC
NIN-SIM Linkage: NCC announces September 14 as final deadline
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerian Communications Commission has set September 14, 2024, as the final deadline for all subscribers to link their National Identification Numbers to their Subscriber Identification Modules.
As of now, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked, reflecting a compliance rate of 96%, a significant increase from 69.7% in January 2024.
NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, in a statement on Wednesday emphasised the importance of this linkage for enhancing digital security and reducing fraud.
He stated that the directive will be effective on September 15, 2024, and any SIM without a valid NIN will be deactivated, urging users to complete the process promptly to avoid service disruption.
The statement reads, “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. By verifying all mobile users, this policy strengthens confidence in digital transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and suppoits greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services. This, in turn, promotes financial inclusion and drives economic growth.
“Through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the NCC has uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards some exceeding 100,000. The Commission also remains committed to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, thereby safeguarding national security and ensuring the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
“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.”
The NCC in the statement advised the public who have not 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, noting that 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 and urged citizens to report any such activities to the Commission via their toll-free line (622) or through their social media handles.
Dailyeconomy on July 30 reported that the NCC said that the directive to telecommunications operators to reconnect all blocked lines of subscribers is a temporary order, as the deactivation will be repeated if consumers fail to verify and update their NIN with their providers.
