Sometimes, in December 2021, the Federal Government had extended the deadline for the NIN-SIM data verification to March 31 2022.
As of February 2022, research has it that Nigeria has over 198 million active telephone subscribers, but a report from the Nigeria Communication Commission disclose that as at December 30, 2021, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, had issued over 71 million NINs to Nigerians.
NCC targets one billion devices on 5G in 2 years
Two ways hackers can steal your information through phone charging, Facebook – NCC
However, over 70 million telecom subscribers in Nigeria have been barred from making phone calls as a result of lack of compliance to linking their lines.
Users, whose lines have been deactivated and barred over non-linkage of NIN can now link their line through:
- Step 1: Download NIMC Mobile ID App
One can download the app through play store, apple app store for those with iphones. - Step 2: Log in with your 11 digit NIN into the NIMC mobile app
After your pin is logged in successfully, you will be presented with six sections, which includes; Show my ID, Get virtual NIN, Scan an ID, Security PIN which you need to set up for subsequent usage, Print NIN Slip
Link my Number - Step 3: Link my number
The minister of communication, isah Pantami explained that one can link up to 7 different phone numbers to one NIN.
Make sure that all the lines are connected to a phone device as there will be a one time OTP - Step 4; After receiving the OTP via SMS, input into the box and hit submit. You will be notified if the linking is successful.
Those with small phones popularly known as “Baby Nokia” can also link NIN to their line through their network provider be it MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile.
- To link your NIN with MTN, dial *785# from the phone number you wish to link the NIN, enter your NIN and submit, the number will be linked to your NIN automatically.
- For Airtel users dial *121*1#
- For 9mobile dial *200*8#
- For Glo, send ‘update NIN, first name and last name’ to 109.
However, it is believed that when the steps are carefully followed the line will be activated which one can start making calls.
