NIN Verification: NCC Orders Telecoms to Reactivate Affected SIMs

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered the immediate reactivation of SIM cards affected by NIN-SIM verification issues.

This directive was disclosed in a statement by the Commission’s spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers were unable to access their phone lines due to the inability to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs). Consequently, their numbers were blocked by telecom service providers in accordance with the NIN-SIM linkage laws and policies.

Telecom consumers and the public will recall that the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM began in December 2020 when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards not linked to a verifiable NIN.

Telcos to Bar More Lines As NCC Insists on Deadline

According to Muoka, the Commission has reviewed the deadline several times since December 2023, with the latest deadline set for April 15, 2024, for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details. This deadline was then extended to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details were properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines remain unlinked with verified NINs.

Muoka noted that the objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate.

The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while also providing critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.

“The consumer is our priority, therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend because of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs.”

Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.

Members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.

The disconnections, which began late Saturday, have affected customers across all major telecommunication companies in Nigeria, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and unrest.

The NCC had set a deadline of July 31 for all subscribers to link their NINs to their phone lines, an extension from the previous deadline of April 15, 2024.