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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline for the third phase of NIN-SIM linkage disconnection to July 31, 2024. Initially set for April 15, the extension is due to pending validation of National Identification Numbers (NINs) submitted by subscribers with fewer than four SIM lines.
The disconnection process, which started in February, has been carried out in three phases. The first phase, on February 28, affected subscribers who had not submitted their NINs by the deadline. The second phase, on March 29, focused on users with five or more lines linked to an unverified NIN. The third phase, now extended, targets subscribers with fewer than five lines linked to unverified NINs.
According to the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the extension was granted to accommodate subscribers whose NINs are yet to be verified. “These subscribers have already submitted their NINs and have fewer than four lines, which is permissible. However, their NINs are still undergoing verification. To give them more time, we decided to extend the deadline,” he said.
Muoka urged subscribers to complete their NIN-SIM linkage promptly, stressing that it is critical to enhancing national security efforts. The NCC emphasized the importance of the linkage in ensuring proper identification of telecom users and supporting the government’s fight against insecurity.
