Telecommunication companies in Nigeria are set to disconnect additional Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) numbers not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) on Friday, March 29, 2024, as confirmed by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
Reuben Mouka, the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, reaffirmed that there would be no extension to the deadline for the upcoming phase of disconnection.
The disconnection process, initiated in stages, commenced on February 28, 2024, with subsequent phases scheduled for March 29, 2024, and April 15, 2024.
During the previous deadline on February 28, 2024, approximately 40 million lines were disconnected due to non-compliance with the SIM-NIN linkage directive.
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MTN Nigeria alone reported over 4.2 million lines disconnected from its network following the deadline.
The NCC emphasizes its commitment to enforcing regulatory measures aimed at bolstering security and compliance within the telecommunications sector.
The SIM-NIN linkage initiative is pivotal in enhancing subscriber data integrity and overall security measures within the industry.
This policy, initially introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2020, mandates all telephone line users in Nigeria to associate their SIM cards with their NIN.
Recent developments include a joint statement by the National Identity Management Commission and the NCC, unveiling a strategic partnership to simplify the NIN-SIM linkage procedures nationwide, aiming to enhance efficiency and service delivery while bolstering security measures.
Additionally, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced plans to freeze accounts lacking a BVN or NIN starting April 2024, with a mandate for BVNs or NINs linked to accounts to be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024.
This directive requires unfunded accounts to be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ status until compliance is met, effective immediately, with funded accounts subjected to the same restriction from March 1, 2024.
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