The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has declared September 14, 2024, as the final deadline for Nigerians to link their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to their National Identity Numbers (NINs).
In a statement released on Wednesday, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, emphasized the importance of adhering to the NIN-SIM linkage policy. “To ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024,” Muoka said.
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The NCC warned that starting from September 15, 2024, no SIM in Nigeria will be allowed to operate without a valid NIN. According to the commission, over 153 million SIMs have already been successfully linked to NINs, representing a compliance rate of 96%, a significant jump from the 69.7% rate recorded in January 2024.
“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 advised.
The commission also highlighted the legal consequences of engaging in the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs, labeling such actions as criminal offences 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 per cent compliance. The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy,” the statement read.
The NCC further noted that verifying all mobile users will help 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. This initiative, the commission added, will also promote financial inclusion and drive economic growth.
The commission revealed that, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Identity Management Commission, it had uncovered alarming cases of individuals possessing an unusually high number of SIM cards-some exceeding 100,000.
