The Federal Government’s 2020 policy to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs) has made significant progress, which the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is happy to announce. The number of SIMs that have been successfully linked to a NIN to date is over 153 million, indicating an impressive 96% compliance rate—a significant increase from 69.7% in January 2024.
In order to attain 100% compliance, the NCC needs the ongoing cooperation of all Nigerians as we move closer to the end of this crucial process. Our digital economy needs to be more secure and trustworthy, which means that all SIM cards must be fully linked to NINs. This policy encourages increased participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services by verifying all mobile users, thereby enhancing trust in digital transactions and lowering the risk of fraud and cybercrime. Economic growth is subsequently fueled by this and financial inclusion.
The NCC has discovered concerning instances where people had an abnormally high number of SIM cards—some surpassing 100,000—through cooperation with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Additionally, the Commission is still dedicated to cooperating with law enforcement and other relevant parties to suppress the sale of pre-registered SIM cards in order to protect the integrity of Nigerian mobile numbers and preserve national security.
All Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have been instructed by the NCC to finish the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024, in order to guarantee complete compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy.
As of September 15, 2024, the Commission anticipates that every SIM card in use in Nigeria will have a valid National Identity Number (NIN).
Every member of the public who has not yet finished linking their NIN-SIM or who has encountered problems because of mismatched verification should contact their service providers right away to update their information in time for the deadline. If you would rather, you can use the authorized self-service portals.
The public is also reminded by the NCC that purchasing and selling pre-registered SIM cards are crimes that carry jail time and financial penalties. We motivate citizens
to use our social media platforms or our toll-free number (622) to report any such activities to the Commission.
The public’s ongoing cooperation is greatly appreciated by the Commission as we collaborate to improve Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
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