The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers has requested the Nigerian Communications Commission to extend the deadline for the NIN-SIM linkage from September 14 to September 30, 2024.
The National President of NATCOMS, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday noting that an extension was required due to challenges with the National Identity Management Commission’s portal.
The NCC had initially set September 14, 2024, as the deadline for all mobile users to link their SIM cards with their National Identification Numbers, emphasizing that this measure is crucial for enhancing digital security and combating fraud and cybercrime.
Ogunbanjo emphasized that a two-week extension was crucial for the National Identity Management Commission to enhance its portal’s capacity.
He noted that telecom operators frequently faced challenges when trying to upload information to the NIMC portal at customer centers.
These difficulties have led to frustrations and delays in the NIN-SIM linkage process.
“As I visited the customer centres of Airtel and MTN, I witnessed firsthand the struggles they faced in uploading data to the NIMC portal.
“The congestion was palpable, and the slow pace of uploads was frustrating.
“It was clear that the NIMC portal lacked the capacity to handle the surge in uploads, causing undue stress for telecom operators and their subscribers.
“I am appealing to the NCC to grant an extension of the deadline to September 30, to allow more time for NIMC to expand its portal capacity,” he said.
Ogunbanjo stated that this measure would address the existing challenges and provide a more seamless experience for all parties involved.
