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Nigeria’s mobile subscriber base has dropped significantly, reducing by 30% to 153.32 million in September 2024. This follows the implementation of the government’s directive to link all SIM cards with a National Identification Number (NIN).
Telecom companies disconnected 65.98 million unverified SIMs, bringing the total number of active subscribers down from 219.3 million in March 2024 to 153.32 million by mid-September.
Why the Drop Happened
The SIM-NIN linkage policy was introduced to improve national security by ensuring every SIM card is linked to a verified identity. The policy now limits SIM registration to individuals aged 18 and above, recognizing it as a legal agreement.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that 96% of active SIMs—about 153 million—are now linked to NINs, a significant jump from 69.7% in January 2024.
Addressing SIM Ownership Issues
The NCC also uncovered cases where individuals owned excessive numbers of SIM cards, with some holding over 100,000. To tackle this, the commission is working with security agencies to eliminate the sale of pre-registered SIMs, which is illegal.
What Nigerians Should Do
The NCC advised those who haven’t completed their SIM-NIN linkage to update their details through their service providers or online portals. It also encouraged people to report illegal sales of pre-registered SIMs through its toll-free line, 622, or its social media pages.
This policy is part of ongoing efforts to secure Nigeria’s telecom sector and reduce criminal activities linked to unregistered SIMs.
