NIN-SIM Linkage: FG MovesTo Bar Outgoing Calls On Unlinked Lines from 4th April, 2022.
The Federal Government has indicated plans to bar all outgoing calls of telephone lines that have not complied with the National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami who disclosed this in Abuja commended Nigerians and Legal Residents for their support and Cooperation on the NIN- SIM linkage exercise.
A joint signed statement by the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Corporate Communications, NIMC,
Kayode Adegoke indicates that so far over 125 Million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication while the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 Million unique NINs till date.
According to Pantami, the deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to freely comply with the Policy putting into consideration the passionate appeals by several bodies – Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies and a host of others – for the extension of the deadlines in the past.
The Federal Government has however determined that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents.
He said the implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.
The Implementation Policy has however been approved by with effect from the 4th of April, 2022.
“Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines. Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App” Pantami noted.
The Minister who urged Nigerians and legal residents to visit NIN registration centers for the enrollment and issuance of valid NINs also emphasized that enrolment for the NIN is a continuous exercise and NIN is a precondition for service in Telcos, banks, Nigerian Immigration Service, and for several other government services.
While appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari for his tremendous support, Pantami also commended the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Dambatta, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Abubakar along with their Management and Staff,
telecommunication operators
as well as other notable bodies whose efforts have seen to the monumental success of the exercise.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, gave the directive for the implementation and commencement of the exercise in December 2020, as part of the administration’s security and social policies.
