Telecommunications operators are set to begin disconnecting mobile lines not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) after the September 14 deadline established by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) expired.
In a statement issued in August, the NCC announced that no SIM card would remain active without a verified NIN after September 15.
The telecom regulator urged subscribers who had not completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or who faced issues due to verification mismatches, to promptly visit their service providers to update their details before the deadline.
As of March 2024, NCC data indicated that there were 219 million active mobile lines across networks such as MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile. Of these, 153 million had been linked to NINs, leaving around 66 million lines at risk of disconnection.
In July, millions of lines were temporarily barred due to unverified NINs, causing nationwide disruptions. Although the NCC reversed that decision and extended the compliance deadline, disconnections will now proceed with the new deadline expired.
Speaking to our correspondant, an anonymous NCC official dismissed the possibility of another extension. “We will disconnect anyone who refuses to comply; the grace period is over. The last extension was due to misconceptions around the August 1 protest,” he explained.
The official emphasized that the NCC’s intention is not to disconnect subscribers but to enforce compliance. “Many Nigerians have chosen not to link their SIMs to their NIN for various reasons. Despite challenges at the Centers, it is essential to complete the process. There will be no further extensions,” he said.
Subscribers have expressed frustration over difficulties uploading their details on the National Identity Management Commission portal, with the President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, describing the situation as “terrible.”
Ogungbanjo noted that technical issues at telecom centers, including MTN and Airtel, were delaying the NIN-SIM linkage process. He urged the NCC to consider a brief extension, stating, “NCC deserves credit for previous extensions, but another week would be beneficial.”
In March, the NIMC and NCC reinforced their collaboration to simplify the NIN-SIM linkage process by launching public awareness campaigns and training stakeholders to assist citizens in complying with the directive.
According to 2024 financial reports, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa barred a combined 13.5 million lines for non-compliance with the NIN-SIM directive. MTN blocked 8.6 million lines, while Airtel confirmed that 8.7 million of its customers had completed verification.
The NIN-SIM linkage initiative, which began in December 2020, requires all telecom users to link their SIMs with their NINs. Following several deadline extensions, the NCC had set April 15, 2024, as the final date for barring subscribers with up to four SIMs lacking verified NIN details.