NCC Orders Immediate Reconnection of Phone Lines Affected by NIN-SIM Linking Issues

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated all mobile operators to reactivate lines that were disconnected over the weekend.

This decision is aimed at addressing the short time available for consumers to complete the verification of their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).

The NCC emphasized that the reactivation is temporary, providing affected consumers a limited period to properly link their NIN to their SIMs. This move underscores the Commission’s commitment to prioritizing consumer interests.

Over the past weekend, numerous telecom subscribers faced disruptions, unable to access their phone lines due to unverified NINs. This situation arose as telecom service providers, complying with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, blocked numbers that were not properly linked.

The compulsory linkage of NIN with SIMs began in December 2020, following a government directive to bar unregistered SIM cards and those not linked to NINs. Since then, the NCC has extended the deadline multiple times, with the most recent being July 31, 2024, allowing consumers additional time to verify their NIN details. Despite multiple deadline extensions, a significant number of phone lines still remain unlinked to verified National Identification Numbers (NINs).

The NIN-SIM linkage initiative aims to enhance national security and ensure the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database. By verifying and protecting users’ identities, this policy supports the infrastructure critical for a robust digital economy.

In response to the challenges caused by the blockages, the NCC has instructed operators to reactivate the disconnected lines, reiterating that this measure is temporary. Consumers are urged to verify their SIMs promptly to maintain access to their phone lines.

The NCC continues to encourage all members of the public who have yet to complete their NIN-SIM verification to do so as soon as possible.