The NCC has directed all operators to reactivate the disconnected lines from the weekend, acknowledging the limited time consumers have to verify their NINs with their SIMs.
Recall over the weekend, numerous telecom subscribers were unable to access their phone lines due to their failure to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).
As a result, telecom service providers blocked their numbers in accordance with the NIN-SIM linkage laws and policies.
The compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM cards began in December 2020, following a government directive that required telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and those not linked to NINs.
Since December 2023, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline several times, with the latest deadline being set for July 31, 2024, to provide consumers with more time to ensure their 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 of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy helps verify and protect users’ identities while providing critical infrastructure that supports access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.
This reactivation is temporary, allowing consumers to properly link their NINs to their SIMs.
The NCC urges all members of the public who have yet to verify their SIMs to do so promptly to maintain access to their phone lines.
For further inquiries, contact the Director of the Public Affairs Department at the Nigerian Communications Commission, Plot 423 Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, via email at [email protected] or by phone at +234-90204617325, +234-8051110337
