The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that September 14, 2024, is the final deadline for linking Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs).
In a statement released on Wednesday, the NCC instructed all Mobile Network Operators to ensure that all SIMs are verified and linked to NINs by this date.
Starting September 15, 2024, no SIM in Nigeria should be operational without a valid NIN.
According to Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, more than 153 million SIMs have already been linked to NINs, marking a 96% compliance rate, up from 69.7% in January 2024.
The NCC urged those who have not completed their NIN-SIM linkage or who are encountering verification issues to visit their service providers or use approved self-service portals before the deadline.
The commission also warned that buying or selling pre-registered SIMs is illegal and subject to penalties.
