As the September 15 deadline for linking National Identification Number to Subscriber Identification Module cards approaches, subscribers have expressed frustration over the challenges they face in uploading their details on the National Identity Management Commission portal.
The President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, described the situation as “terrible” after visiting some telecom centres, including MTN and Airtel.
“We urge the NCC and NIMC to work together to improve the portal’s capacity, reduce congestion at telecom centres, and provide adequate support staff to ensure a seamless process,” he explained on Wednesday.
He emphasised that the current portal issues hinder the successful completion of the NIN-SIM linkage before the deadline, stating, “The current situation will not make subscribers meet the deadline if not addressed urgently.”
Ogungbanjo noted that the congestion on the NIMC website occurs when many people attempt to access it simultaneously, making the process smooth only when fewer users are online.
“When you go to the NIMC office in Alausa, Lagos, you will experience the same congestion. It takes too much time and it’s only seamless when not many people are trying to access the website. I think the congestion happens because too many people wait until the last minute to try and access the website,” he explained.
The NATCOMS President urged NIMC to address the website’s capacity issues to ensure a smooth NIN-SIM linkage process for all Nigerians, preventing further frustrations as the deadline looms.
Almost two weeks ago, the National Communications Commission announced the deadline saying that over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to NIN.
This represents a 96 per cent compliance rate. However, subscribers are worried that the remaining four per cent may not meet the deadline due to the challenges they now face.
In March the NIMC and NCC formed a strategic collaboration to enhance the processes related to the NIN-SIM linkage.
Both agencies said they would enhance public awareness and understanding of the NIN-SIM linkage requirements.
This includes educational campaigns, training sessions for stakeholders, and the dissemination of accurate information to the public to encourage compliance with the linkage directives.
The Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, clarified the agency’s role in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage process, stating that NIMC’s primary responsibility was to provide the NIN to Nigerians and ensure that telcos linked the numbers to their respective SIM cards.
He emphasised that the commission’s centres were open and fully functional, with adequate capacity to enroll and issue NINs to citizens. “We have never lacked capacity,” he told The PUNCH.
Adegoke also highlighted NIMC’s efforts to educate Nigerians on the process of obtaining NIN through various social media platforms, providing clear guidelines and support to facilitate a seamless experience.
In 2020, the Nigerian government introduced the NIN-SIM linkage policy to enhance national security and reduce fraudulent activities.
The NCC told the public last month that the SIM-NIN linkage exercise was aimed at enhancing national security, improving the integrity of the mobile network, and curbing fraudulent activities.
According to their financial results for the period ending June 30, 2024, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa barred a combined 13.5 million lines in the first half of 2024.
MTN reported in its half-year financial results that it barred 8.6 million lines, while Airtel announced that 8.7 million customers had been verified since the NCC’s directive. However, Airtel noted that 4.9 million customers remain unverified.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.