NCC orders immediate reactivation of lines affected by NIN-SIM verification issues

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC has ordered telecommunications companies operating in the country to immediately reactivate lines deactivated as a result of NIN-SIM verification issues.

Over the weekend many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines because of their inability to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).

“This meant that their numbers were blocked by their telecom service providers in keeping with laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage”, NCC’s Director Public Affairs, Mr.Reuben Muoka said in a statement.

Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM which began in December 2020 when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.

Muoka averted that since December 2023, the Commission has since reviewed the deadline a few times and that April 15, 2024 was set as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.

“This deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified.

“Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs”, he noted.

He said the objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate.

“The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while also providing a critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry”, he added.

He explained that the consumer remains the  priority of the NCC, “therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs”.

He said that reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.

“Members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines”, the NCC said.