The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed all telecom service providers to immediately reactivate lines that were barred due to the NIN-SIM linkage requirement. This reactivation will be available for a limited time.
In a press release, Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs, stated that over the weekend, many telecom subscribers could not access their phone lines because they had not verified their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs). As a result, these numbers were blocked by the telecom companies in compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
The mandatory linkage of NINs with SIMs began in December 2020, when the government instructed telecommunication companies to block unregistered SIM cards and those not linked to a NIN. The NCC has extended the deadline multiple times, with the final deadline set for April 15, 2024, for subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details. This was later extended to July 31, 2024, to give consumers additional time to verify their NIN details. Despite these extensions, many phone lines remain unlinked to verified NINs.
The Federal Government of Nigeria aims to enhance national security and ensure the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database through this exercise. The NIN-SIM linkage policy helps verify and protect users’ identities while supporting the infrastructure necessary for a strong digital economy.
The NCC prioritizes consumer needs and, considering the inconvenience caused by the blockages, has directed all operators to reactivate lines disconnected over the weekend. This reactivation is temporary, allowing consumers more time to link their NINs to their SIMs properly. The public is urged to complete the verification process as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.