The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set September 14, 2024, as the final deadline for Nigerians to complete the SIM-NIN linkage exercise. The telecom regulator reported that over 153 million SIMs have already been successfully linked to a National Identification Number (NIN), reflecting a remarkable compliance rate of 96%, up from 69.7% in January 2024.
Despite the progress, millions of lines remain unlinked. As of March 2024, there were 219 million active lines across the networks of MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile, leaving a significant number of subscribers yet to comply with the linkage requirement. The NCC, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, emphasized the goal of achieving 100% compliance by the September 14 deadline. Any SIM not linked by that date will be blocked by the network operators.
The NCC also highlighted that all submitted NINs must be verified to ensure full compliance. This has been a challenge for many subscribers due to irregularities in registered data, which has hindered the verification process. The Commission urged telecom consumers facing verification issues to update their details with service providers or use approved self-service portals before the deadline.
The urgency of the final deadline follows a chaotic episode in late July when millions of lines were barred for not having verified NINs, causing widespread disruptions and prompting violent reactions from frustrated subscribers. This coincided with a planned nationwide protest, leading the NCC to temporarily lift the bar on unverified lines, giving subscribers more time to complete the linkage.
The compulsory NIN-SIM linkage began in December 2020 when the government directed telecom operators to bar unregistered SIM cards and those not linked to a NIN. Although the NCC has extended the deadline several times, most recently to July 31, 2024, many subscribers have yet to verify their NIN details. The September 14 deadline marks the final opportunity for subscribers to avoid disconnection.