Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are now under instruction to block over 72.77 million active telecommunication subscribers who failed to link their NIMs to the SIMs from making calls.
The instruction was handed to the MNOs today, April 5 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in line with the Federal Government’s initial directives to telecommunication companies to restrict such subscribers from making calls for failure to link their SIM Cards with the mandatory National Identification Number.
Yesterday, April 4, the Federal Government had asked NCC to ensure that affected telecommunications companies enforce compliance with its National Identification Number-Subscriber Identity Module policy by restricting outgoing calls on all unlinked lines as the deadline for the verification expired on March 31.
The directive was contained in a joint statement signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission, and Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications in the Nigeria Identity Management Commission.
Available statistics show that 125 million SIMs have submitted their NINs for linkage, while over 78 million unique NINs have been issued.
The statement said that the deadline for the NIN-SIM linkage had been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to comply with the policy.
“Accordingly, Mr. President graciously approved the many requests to extend deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage. At this point, however, the government has determined that the NIN-SIM policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents.
“The implementation impacts on government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the policy with effect from April 4, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all telcos to strictly enforce the policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria.
“Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage policy from April 4, 2022.”
The Federal Government said that subscribers yet to link their SIMs to their NINs should do so before their lines are completely restricted.
According to the NCC, there were 197.77 million active telecom subscribers as of February 2022. 125 million subscribers have submitted their NINs for verification, leaving 72.77 million subscribers on the receiving end of the Federal Government’s new directive.
Many Nigerians had questioned the potency of the SIM-NIN linkage as a result of kidnapping incidences and other social vices connected to telecom subscribers.
However, industry watchers believe that the current steps taken by the NCC will be productive in view of national security.
