Telcos Block Millions Of Phone Lines As NIN-SIM Linkage Deadline Approaches

Nigerian telecommunications companies (Telcos) have blocked millions of phone lines from making and receiving calls as part of finalising the process of associating subscribers’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) with all active SIM cards.

Telcos were hurrying to meet the July 31, 2024 deadline imposed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to block all subscribers whose NINs have not been verified.

Despite the extension of the deadline from the initial April 15, 2024 to July 31, the latest actions by MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, indicated that many subscribers still have irregularities with their NIN-SIM linkage.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the telcos had before now disconnected millions of lines not linked with SIMs.

The current phase being implemented requires the operators to verify all NINs submitted to ensure the owners’ details tally with their details on the SIM registration database.

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While the figures of affected lines across the networks were yet to be released, Airtel in its quarterly results released on Friday, disclosed that NINs of 4.9 million of its customers were yet to be verified.

An official of one of the mobile network operator, who spoke with Nairametrics under condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said many subscribers had ignored messages from the telcos about the need to correct the irregularities in their NIN and SIM data.

“We all received a directive from the NCC to bar all lines whose owners’ NIN has not been verified. As you are aware, the deadline is July 31, which is why some lines whose linked NINs have not been verified are being barred.

“All the affected subscribers on our network have received several messages informing them of the need to update their records. In most cases, you find out that the name on the NIN is not the same as the name used to register the SIM or there’s a photo mismatch or disparity in date of birth. Even though the subscriber had linked his or her line with NIN before, this requires the subscriber to update his or her records to perfect the linkage,” he said.

He, however, noted as verified by text messages sent to customers that owners of deactivated lines can still reactivate their lines by visiting their service providers to update their records.

In December 2023, the NCC directed all telecommunications operators to undertake full network barring of all SIMs that have failed to submit their NINs on or before February 28, 2024.

Customers who had submitted their NINs but were still unverified were originally set to be barred on April 15, 2024; this deadline was extended to July 31, 2024.

In addition, new guidelines dictate that no customer can have more than four active phone lines and any excess SIM must be barred by March 29, 2024.

This requirement is part of the ongoing government initiative to harmonise NIN-SIM data, which necessitates all users to provide valid NIN information for updating SIM registration records.