The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a final directive to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs) by September 14, 2024.
NCC’s move was part of the Federal Government’s 2020 policy aimed at enhancing security and trust in the digital economy.
As of now, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to NINs, achieving a compliance rate of 96 per cent, up from 69.7 per cent in January 2024.
Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, explained the importance of completing the process, stating that full linkage is crucial for boosting trust and security in Nigeria’s digital economy.
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The NCC’s collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has revealed concerning cases where individuals held unusually high numbers of SIM cards, with some exceeding 100,000.
To address this, the Commission is working with security agencies and stakeholders to prevent the sale of pre-registered SIMs, protecting national security and maintaining the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
To ensure full compliance, the NCC has directed MNOs to complete the verification and linkage by September 14, 2024. Starting September 15, 2024, all SIMs operating in Nigeria must be linked to a valid NIN.
The NCC urged individuals who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage or experienced verification issues to visit their service providers or use approved self-service portals to update their details before the deadline.
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