Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program, NCC spokesman, Reuben Muoka, attributed the barring to discrepancies in NIN verification and identification.
Muoka clarified that subscribers whose NINs were not adequately verified or matched with SIM card information faced restrictions. He highlighted issues such as disparities in personal data as a contributing factor.
Addressing subscribers’ complaints regarding past NIN-SIM linkage, Muoka emphasized the necessity for physical visits to service provider outlets to validate NINs and rectify discrepancies. While acknowledging the inconvenience, he expressed hope for future virtual validation processes.
The NCC’s directive to telecom service providers to bar unlinked phone numbers by February 28, 2024, affected millions of subscribers. Muoka noted the regulator’s gradual approach to deadlines since 2022 but stressed the need for closure.
While exact figures on barred phone lines remain undisclosed, Muoka assured an impending audit to ascertain the extent of compliance. He underscored the objective of NIN-SIM linkage as enhancing digital identity for security purposes and streamlined access to digital services.
The NCC’s measures align with broader efforts to integrate digital services, as echoed by banking institutions’ initiatives to link NINs with Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
As Nigeria aims for comprehensive digital identity solutions, subscribers are urged to comply with NIN-SIM linkage requirements for uninterrupted mobile services.
