The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a new deadline of September 14, 2024, for linking Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs). If not linked by this date, 66.01 million SIM cards could face disconnection.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As of Wednesday, the NCC reported that 153 million lines have successfully been linked to NINs, representing a 96% compliance rate, up from 69.7% in January 2024. The total number of active GSM lines in Nigeria stood at 219.01 million as of March 2024.
The SIM-NIN linkage initiative, which began in 2020, saw 125 million lines linked by April 2022. Since then, the NCC has extended the deadline multiple times, with the latest deadlines announced in December 2023.
The NCC initially set February 28, 2024, as the deadline for barring unlinked SIMs. Lines linked to unverified NINs with five or more SIMs were to be barred by March 29, 2024, and those with fewer than five by April 15, 2024. However, the deadline was pushed to July 2024 after public backlash against premature line barring by some mobile network operators.
The commission reiterated the importance of the SIM-NIN linkage for enhancing security, reducing fraud and cybercrime, and boosting participation in digital services like e-commerce and mobile banking.
“As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100% compliance. The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy,” said Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at the NCC.
The NCC also revealed that, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), it had discovered individuals holding over 100,000 SIM cards. The commission is committed to eliminating pre-registered SIM cards and ensuring national security.
From September 15, 2024, no SIM will operate without a valid NIN, marking the end of this extensive verification process.
