Victor EzejaAfter repeatedly extending deadlines for linkage of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) with National Identification Number (NIN), the Nigerian government has ordered telecom operators to commence blocking of unlinked lines today, April 4.
This action entails barring outgoing calls from over 65 million SIMS in Nigeria until they are linked to the subscribers’ NIN.
According a statement issued today by the director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, out of the over 190 million active subscribers across all mobile telephone networks in the country, “over 125 million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication.”
The statement which was made available at the NCC website, said subscribers who are yet to comply with the NIN-SIM linkage policy are advised to do so before the Telcos can lift the restrictions on their lines.
It would recalled that the Federal Government in December 2020, gave directive for the exercise of linking NINs with SIMs of citizens and legal residents as part of efforts to boost security and socioeconomic policy implementations.
The government subsequently extended deadlines for the exercise to enable many subscribers link their lines.
However, the government through the ministry of communications and digital economy led by Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, decided that the NIN-SIM linkage implementation can proceed henceforth, noting that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure compliance.
” The implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections,” Adinde stated.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria.
“Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022. Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines.
“Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App,” Adinde further stated.
The statement quoted Pantami as saying that NIN enrolment is a continuous exercise and encouraged all individuals who are yet to register to do so, as it has become one of the prerequisites for getting services from Telcos, banks, Nigerian Immigration Service, and for several other government services.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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