Nigeria’s Unlinked SIM Cards Face Disconnection as NIN Deadline Passes
Telecommunications operators across Nigeria are expected to begin disconnecting mobile phone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers (NINs) after the September 14 deadline set by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) expired. The regulator had made it clear that, from September 15, no SIM card would remain active without verification of its NIN.
In August, the NCC urged subscribers who had not completed their NIN-SIM linkage or faced verification issues to update their details before the deadline. However, with the grace period now over, millions of lines are at risk of disconnection. As of March 2024, data from the NCC revealed that of Nigeria’s 219 million active mobile lines across major operators such as MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, only 153 million had been successfully linked to NINs, leaving around 66 million lines vulnerable.
A brief reprieve in July saw the temporary barring of millions of unverified lines, causing widespread disruption, before the NCC reversed its decision to give subscribers more time. This time, however, officials have ruled out another extension. An NCC spokesperson, speaking anonymously, dismissed any hopes of a further delay: “We will disconnect anyone who refuses to comply; the grace period is over.”
The official rejected the notion that the NCC was deliberately targeting customers, attributing the delay in disconnections to “misconceptions” around protests earlier this year. He added that while some subscribers may have encountered challenges, it remained essential to complete the process. “Let me be clear—there will be no further extensions,” he said.
Subscribers have voiced growing frustration at the difficulties in completing the linkage process, particularly with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal. AdeoluOgungbanjo, President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, described the situation at telecom centres as “terrible,” blaming technical glitches for slowing down registrations. He urged the NCC to consider a brief extension, warning that many subscribers might otherwise be unable to meet the deadline.
Despite these calls, the regulatory body appears resolute. In March, the NCC and NIMC intensified efforts to simplify the NIN-SIM linkage process, rolling out public awareness campaigns and training stakeholders to ease compliance.
The compulsory NIN-SIM linkage was first introduced in December 2020, with the government mandating the barring of unregistered SIM cards. Despite multiple extensions over the past three years, the final deadline for barring lines with unverified NIN details was set for April 15, 2024. Financial results from the first half of 2024 show that MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa collectively barred 13.5 million lines for non-compliance with the directive.
As the NCC begins to enforce its ultimatum, millions of Nigerians now face the prospect of disconnection, intensifying frustrations in a country where mobile connectivity is an essential part of daily life.
