NCC extends deadline for NIN-SIM to July 31
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline for the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers from April 15 to July 31, 2024.
According to a source within the Telecommission sector said that the Commission’s position was hinged on its objective to clean the country’s SIM ownership database, and ensure that criminals could not take advantage of having multiple unlinked SIMs to carry out their nefarious activities.
It said the deadline for those with less than four SIM cards which expired on March 29 and has been effected.
Also, the source said telcos have been given a deadline of July 31 to verify the national identity numbers (NINs) of subscribers, and are expected to bar any line whose NIN fails verification on or before then.
On February 29, the commission said a total of 45 million lines in the country would be barred for not linking their SIM cards with their NINs from February 28, 2024.
The agency said out of the 45 million, 42 million lines have neither made a call, had a data session or sent an SMS in over one year. But the deadline was extended to March 29.
The NCC, reiterating its position, asked telcos to bar unlinked lines on March 29, saying there would be no more extensions for subscribers to comply with the NIN-SIM policy.
The agency said telecommunication companies have been directed to bar owners of more than four SIM cards whose registration failed to match their NIN data.
