Abuja, Nigeria – Telecom operators across the country have started disconnecting approximately 66 million phone lines in a move to enforce the federal government’s directive on the mandatory National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) linkage. The action follows repeated warnings and deadline extensions, aimed at enhancing national security and streamlining the identification process for citizens.
As of March 2024, data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that 153 million of the 219 million active lines across major networks, including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, had already been linked to NIN. This left about 66 million lines at risk of being disconnected for non-compliance.
A brief blockage of millions of unverified lines between July 28 and 29 caused widespread disruptions. Additionally, financial data from the first half of 2024 indicated that 13.5 million lines were blocked by MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa for failing to adhere to the NIN-SIM linking directive. Specifically, MTN disconnected 8.6 million lines, while Airtel noted that 8.7 million of its subscribers had completed the verification process.
The telecom operators have urged affected subscribers to link their NIN to their SIM cards to avoid permanent disconnection. Subscribers whose lines have been deactivated can still reconnect by visiting service centers of telecom providers or offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to complete the linkage process.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy, introduced in 2020, was part of the government’s strategy to address insecurity, fraud, and criminal activities associated with unregistered or improperly registered phone lines. Following multiple extensions, the NCC confirmed in August that it expected all SIM cards to be linked to NIN by September 15.
An NCC official defended the disconnections, emphasizing that the grace period had ended. He explained that the NIN-SIM linkage is vital for national security, as unregistered and unlinked SIMs have been frequently used in criminal activities such as kidnapping, terrorism, and financial fraud.
“The NIN-SIM linkage is an essential step in safeguarding the nation and ensuring the integrity of our telecom infrastructure,” he stated.
Despite the government’s firm stance on the policy, there has been public criticism. The president of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, described the process as “horrible” and urged the NCC to consider a one-week extension due to the technical difficulties that plagued the registration process.
However, Ogungbanjo also praised the NCC for its efforts, acknowledging the numerous extensions provided thus far.