Relief for Subscribers as NCC Orders Immediate Restoration of Lines Affected by NIN-SIM Verification

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive to all telecommunications operators to immediately reactivate phone lines that were disconnected due to issues with the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM verification process.

This decision was made to alleviate the challenges caused by the blockages and prioritize consumer interests.

The NCC acknowledged the difficulties faced by many telecom subscribers who were unable to access their phone lines over the weekend due to the inability to verify their NINs with their SIMs.

As a result, the Commission has granted a limited-time reprieve to allow affected consumers to properly link their NIN to their SIM.

However, the NCC emphasized that this reactivation is temporary and urged members of the public who have yet to verify their SIMs to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.

The Commission reminded consumers that the NIN-SIM linkage is a mandatory requirement, and failure to comply may result in permanent disconnection.

The NIN-SIM linkage policy was introduced in December 2020 to enhance national security and ensure the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database.

The policy aims to verify and protect users’ identities while providing a critical infrastructure for accessing the benefits of a robust digital economy.

Despite several deadline extensions, many phone lines remain unlinked with verified NINs.

The NCC had previously set April 15, 2024, as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.

However, this deadline was later reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified.

The NCC’s directive to reactivate affected lines demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to prioritizing consumer interests while also ensuring compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy.

Consumers are encouraged to take advantage of this temporary reprieve to verify their SIMs and avoid permanent disconnection.