The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the final deadline for all Nigerians to link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to their National Identity Numbers (NINs) is September 14, 2024.
To date, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to a NIN, which it said, reflected an impressive compliance rate of 96 per cent, a substantial increase from 69.7 per cent in January 2024.
“As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 per cent compliance. The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy. By verifying all mobile users, this policy strengthens confidence in digital transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and supports greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services. This, in turn, promotes financial inclusion and drives economic growth”, the NCC said in a statement.
The Commission said through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), it has uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards.
It said some individuals had up to 100,000 lines.
NCC stated its commitment to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, thereby safeguarding national security and ensuring the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
To ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024.
NCC wrote: “We urge all members of the public who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or who have faced issues due to verification mismatches, to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline.
Alternatively, the approved self-service portals are available for this purpose.”
The NCC also reminded the public that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs continued to be criminal offences punishable by imprisonment and fines.
