NCC Mandates Telecoms to Block Unlinked NINs, Enforces Stricter SIM Registration Rules
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has intensified efforts to enforce the linkage of National Identity Numbers (NINs) to SIM cards, with an order to telecommunication companies to bar calls from numbers that are yet to be linked starting from Friday, 29 March. This directive, part of a broader initiative to enhance security and clean up the country’s SIM ownership database, aims to curb criminal activities facilitated by unregistered and unlinked SIMs.
Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, explained that the directive is being implemented in stages, with the second phase scheduled for 29 March. The initial phase, which occurred at the end of February, targeted subscribers who had not submitted their NINs for linkage. Subscribers who fail to comply with the directive face the prospect of being barred from making calls until the linkage is completed.
The NCC’s decision is driven by a commitment to ensuring that individuals with multiple unlinked SIMs do not exploit this loophole for illicit activities. The commission has also extended the deadline for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to verify all NINs submitted by subscribers with four or fewer SIMs, as well as to bar those whose NINs fail verification with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Despite the extension of deadlines and efforts to raise awareness, many phone lines remain unlinked. The Max-4 rule, which limits telecom subscribers to four lines per mobile network operator, was introduced by the Federal Government in April 2021 to regulate SIM ownership and enhance security measures.
The compulsory linkage of NINs to SIM cards began in 2020, with the government directing telecommunication companies to block calls from unregistered and unlinked lines. The NCC’s latest directive underscores the government’s determination to enforce stricter SIM registration rules and combat criminal activities perpetrated through unregistered and unlinked SIMs.
Premium Times
