The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that September 14, 2024, will be the final deadline for all Nigerians to link their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to their National Identity Numbers (NINs).
In a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, the commission emphasized that all Mobile Network Operators must complete the mandatory verification and linkage by this date.
Starting September 15, 2024, no SIM operating in Nigeria will be allowed to function without a valid NIN.
As of now, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to NINs, achieving an impressive compliance rate of 96%, up from 69.7% in January 2024.
The NCC encourages those who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage or who have encountered verification issues to visit their service providers or utilize the approved self-service portals before the deadline.
The commission also reiterated that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment and fines.
In its statement, the NCC stressed the importance of this linkage process for enhancing trust and security in Nigeria’s digital economy.
By ensuring that all mobile users are verified, the policy aims to reduce fraud and cybercrime, encourage participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services, and promote financial inclusion.
Additionally, the NCC, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Identity Management Commission, has discovered alarming cases where individuals possess an excessive number of SIM cards, some exceeding 100,000.
The commission remains committed to cracking down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs to safeguard national security and maintain the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
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