Telecommunication operators in Nigeria have started the disconnection of approximately 66 million phone lines.
This action is in line with the federal government’s directive on the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) linkage.
This decision comes after several extensions and warnings given to Nigerians to comply with the policy.
The NIN-SIM linkage was introduced to enhance national security and improve the identification process in the country.
By March 2024, about 153 million of Nigeria’s 219 million active phone lines were successfully linked to the NIN.
However, around 66 million phone lines remained unlinked and at risk of being disconnected.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had issued multiple warnings to the public, urging compliance.
However, millions of lines remained unverified, leading to temporary disconnections across mobile networks. Telecom operators such as MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile were affected.
For instance, between July 28 and 29, millions of phone lines were briefly blocked, causing significant disruptions.
Financial reports from the first half of 2024 reveal that 13.5 million phone lines were deactivated by MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa for failing to adhere to the NIN-SIM linkage directive.
MTN Nigeria stated that 8.6 million phone lines were blocked, while Airtel reported that 8.7 million of its customers had completed their NIN verification.
Despite these challenges, telecom operators have urged their customers to take immediate steps to link their NINs to their SIM cards.
Subscribers whose lines have already been disconnected still have the chance to reconnect.
This can be done by visiting the service centers of telecom operators or the offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The NIN-SIM linkage policy was first introduced by the Nigerian government in 2020.
The primary aim of this policy is to combat insecurity and criminal activities in the country.
Unregistered or improperly registered phone lines have often been used to carry out fraudulent activities, including kidnapping, terrorism, and financial fraud.
The NCC, in collaboration with the NIMC, mandated that every mobile phone user in the country must link their SIM cards to their unique NIN.
The policy was seen as an essential step in creating a central database to monitor phone usage, enhance identity verification, and promote digital financial inclusion.
Several deadline extensions were provided by the NCC to give Nigerians more time to comply with the policy.
The final deadline was set for September 15, 2024, following earlier extensions.
In August, the NCC announced that no SIM card would remain active without a verified NIN after the September deadline.
