The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive to telecommunications operators, including MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile, to implement full blockage of all subscribers’ identification module (SIM) cards not linked to national identification numbers (NINs) by February 28, 2024. This move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance security, streamline identification processes, and boost the National Identity Management System (NIMS) in the country.
Key Points:
- Deadline for NIN Linkage: The NCC’s directive requires telecom operators to enforce the full blockage of SIM cards without linked NINs by February 28, 2024. This deadline aims to prompt subscribers to complete the mandatory NIN-SIM Linkage exercise initiated in December 2020.
- Subscriber Base and Impact: As of August, Nigerian telecom operators collectively have approximately 220 million subscriptions. MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile have been individually tasked with implementing the directive. The implementation may impact operators’ subscriber bases, as seen in the loss of over 20 million subscriptions during the initial phase of the NIN-SIM Linkage exercise.
- MTN’s Response: MTN, one of the major telecom operators, disclosed receiving a formal directive from the NCC to implement full network barring on lines without submitted NINs or with unverified NINs. The company is engaging affected subscribers to encourage NIN submissions and enhance service outlets to streamline the verification process. Full suspension of services is set for lines with unverified NINs on or before March 29, 2024, for five or more linked lines, and April 15, 2024, for less than five linked lines.
- Industry-Wide Compliance: The NCC’s directive aligns with an industry-wide effort to restrict outgoing calls for subscribers with unlinked or unverified NINs, as initially mandated on April 4, 2022. The objective is to ensure a comprehensive and verified linkage between subscribers and their NINs.
- ALTON’s Appeal: The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has urged telephone users not to wait until the deadline and to promptly submit their NINs for verification. ALTON emphasizes the importance of the NIN in promoting economic inclusion, access to government services, and addressing security concerns.
Conclusion: As Nigeria moves to strengthen its National Identity Management System, the NCC’s directive signals a crucial phase in enforcing compliance with NIN-SIM linkage. The telecom operators play a pivotal role in implementing these measures, and subscribers are encouraged to adhere to the deadlines to avoid service disruptions and contribute to building a more secure and digitally inclusive society.
