Percy Onyeka
After the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s deadline of February 28, 2024, expired over the weekend, telecommunications companies blocked almost 40 million phone lines. to connect NIN with your phone numbers.
Compared to the 12 million phone lines that were originally planned for deactivation, this action was in compliance with the NCC’s regulation that all telecom users link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) with their National Identity Numbers (NINs).
Telecommunications firms were directed by the NCC to disconnect any SIMs that were not associated with their respective NINs by the end of February 2024, as stated in a notice dated December 2023.
The regulatory authority underlined how crucial this connection is to improving digital identity verification and national security procedures.
The NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, confirmed on Thursday that there would be no extension of the deadline.
He also indicated that telecommunications operators failing to meet the deadline for deactivating unlinked SIMs would face sanctions.
For telecom consumers who have yet to link their SIMs with their NINs, the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) offers a solution through the NIMC Personal Identity digital application.
Here are steps to follow to link your sim with NIN:
– Download the NIMC Personal Identity application on Google Store or Apple Store.
– Downloading the application will give you access to link up about 28 mobile numbers to your NIN.
– Input your 11-digit NIN to continue on the NIMC personal Identity page for the linkage.
– If you do not know your NIN, retrieve it by dialling *346# on the mobile number provided during the registration or supply your first name, middle name, surname and date of birth in the information box provided by the app to search the NIN.
– After proceeding with providing the NIN in the box, it will proceed to confirm your number.
– If the number found linked to your NIN is not that known, indicate that you want to use another number in the options provided.
– Provide the number and you will immediately get an SMS containing a token to proceed.
– If you don’t get an OTP, dial *364*2*NIN#
You will receive an SMS containing your UserID and OTP.
– You will then input the OTP after which you will be taken to your identity platform which will show your UserID and NIN info with a picture.
– There’s an icon that will show that you can link your numbers, click on it and add your numbers.
– Another OTP will be sent to the number(s) you want to link, input it and it will be linked.
Techrectory with Agency Report
