The National Identity Management Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission have unveiled a strategic partnership aimed at improving processes associated with NIN-SIM linkage.
This collaboration was announced through a joint statement signed by Ayodele Babalola, the Technical Adviser for Media and Communications to the DG/CEO of NIMC, and Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at NCC.
Within this cooperative framework, NIMC and NCC will closely cooperate to explore synergies and leverage their respective expertise and resources across various areas, particularly to streamline the NIN-SIM linkage process. Additionally, the partnership aims to harmonize regulations to eliminate obstacles in the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.
Outlined in the statement are key focus areas for collaboration between the two agencies. These include ensuring a seamless experience for Nigerian telecommunications subscribers by employing innovative approaches to facilitate swift verification and authentication of NINs during SIM registration and activation processes.
Furthermore, both agencies will collaborate on initiatives to enhance public awareness and understanding of the NIN-SIM linkage requirements.
Emphasizing their dedication to fostering a collaborative and transparent partnership prioritizing the interests of Nigerian citizens and national development, NIMC and NCC aim to overcome challenges associated with the NIN-SIM linkage exercise through the pooling of resources and expertise.
The NIN-SIM linkage exercise has garnered significant national attention, highlighting the crucial need to align SIM registrations with individuals’ unique national identification numbers.
In compliance with a directive issued by the NCC in December last year, all telecommunications operators in Nigeria, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, among others, are required to implement full network barring on phone lines lacking submission of national identification numbers (NINs) by February 28, 2024. Additionally, lines with submitted but unverified NINs are also subject to full barring.
For unverified NINs linked to five or more lines, network barring is to be enforced on or before March 29, 2024. Similarly, lines linked to unverified NINs, totaling less than five, are to face barring on or before April 15, 2024.
