By The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered the immediate reactivation of phone lines affected by NIN-SIM verification issues. This directive was communicated through a press release by the NCC.
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). The NCC confirmed that these numbers were blocked by telecom service providers in compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage laws and policies.
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 and SIMs not linked to NIN. Since then, the Commission has reviewed the deadline multiple times, with April 15, 2024, initially set as the deadline for full network barring of subscribers with unverified NIN details. This deadline was later extended to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines remain unlinked with verified NINs.
The objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government 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 citizens.
Considering the challenges caused by the blockages, the NCC has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend. Reactivated consumers should note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.
Members of the public who have yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.
