In a statement signed by the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, on Wednesday, the regulator also announced that over 153 million SIMs had been successfully linked to NINs, leaving only four per cent of mobile users yet to comply with the directive.
The commission warned that failure to do so will result in consequences, including the risk of having their mobile services disconnected.
“To ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024. Effective September 15, 2024, the commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN,” the telecom regulator stated.
The NCC stated that through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Identity Management Commission it has uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards, some exceeding 100,000.
“The sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment and fines. We encourage citizens to report any such activities to the commission via our toll-free line (622) or through our social media platforms,” the commission added.
