Telecommunication companies have set a deadline for Nigerians who have not yet linked their SIM cards with their NIN Upon the expiration of the deadline, customers of MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile, and other telecommunication providers will be blocked The blocked SIM cards will not be able to make or receive calls, nor will they be able to send text messages
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed telecommunications giants, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, to implement full network ban on all phone lines not linked to national identification numbers (NINs).
According to the directive, the telecom operators must ensure all subscribers on their network must have submitted their NINs by February 28, 2024. NCC instructs MTN, Airtel, others to bar sim cards without NIN.
Data from the NCC website showed 220.7 million (220,715,961) telecom subscribers are in Nigeria as of August 2023. This is compared to 98.7 million total registrations and unique numbers issued as of April 2023 based on National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) data. Those affected can still regain access to their lines only if they secure their NIN and link.
What is MTN saying on barring subscribers? In a notice published on the Nigerian Exchange and obtained by Legit.ng, MTN said:
“MTN Nigeria Communications PLC wishes to inform that the NCC has mandated the implementation of full network barring on all phone lines lacking submission of National Identity Numbers (NINs) and those with unverified NINs.
