The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that SIM cards not linked to National Identity Numbers (NINs) will face deactivation by the end of February.
This was disclosed by the NCC Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Maida, during a press briefing on Tuesday, February 6th. Maida emphasized, “SIMs without NINs will cease to function by the month’s end.
” The mandatory linking process commenced in December 2020 following government directives to telecommunication companies to block calls from unregistered and unlinked NINs.
The objective of this policy is to aid authorities in combating banditry and terrorism, which pose significant threats to public safety.
Despite deadline extensions, a substantial number of phone lines remain unlinked.
Addressing this issue, Maida noted, “Pre-registered or illegally registered SIMs have long been a challenge.”
He acknowledged the limitations of previous attempts to address the issue and underscored the commission’s commitment to data-driven decision-making.
Maida emphasized the commission’s intention to hold telecom service providers accountable for delivering satisfactory services to consumers.
He emphasized the need to prioritize consumer interests while ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations by licensees.
Furthermore, Maida outlined the commission’s focus on key stakeholders, including consumers, industry players, licensees, and the government, with an overarching goal of enhancing service quality and consumer satisfaction.
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