The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced significant progress in the Federal Government’s policy to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs).
As of the latest count, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to an NIN, representing an impressive compliance rate of 96 per cent.
The NCC has set a deadline of September 14, 2024, for all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs.
Effective September 15, 2024, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN.
The NCC has also uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards, with some exceeding 100,000.
The Commission is working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, which is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment and fines.
The NCC has urged the public to report any such activities to the Commission via its toll-free line (622) or through its social media platforms.
The Commission has also reminded the public that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offences.
