The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set September 14, 2024, as the final deadline for Nigerians to link their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) with their National Identity Numbers (NINs).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the commission directed all Mobile Network Operators to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by the deadline.
“From September 15, 2024, the commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN,” the statement said.
Muoka highlighted that over 153 million SIMs have already been successfully linked to a NIN, reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96 percent, a significant increase from the 69.7 percent reported in January 2024.
The NCC urged individuals who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage or have encountered issues due to verification mismatches to promptly visit their service providers to update their details. Self-service portals approved by the NCC are also available for this purpose.
The commission further emphasized that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offenses, punishable by imprisonment and fines.
“As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 percent compliance. The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy,” the statement continued.
By verifying all mobile users, the NIN-SIM linkage policy aims to strengthen confidence in digital transactions, reduce the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and support greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services, thereby promoting financial inclusion and driving economic growth.
The statement also revealed that, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Identity Management Commission, the NCC has uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards—some exceeding 100,000. The commission remains committed to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, safeguarding national security and ensuring the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
