• Telecoms operators to disconnect all unlinked SIMs from September 15
• NCC uncovers individuals with over 100,000 SIM cards
• 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to NIN
• Commission urges subscribers to complete process to avoid disconnection
• Experts explain why SIM-NIN has not helped in tackling crimes
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that starting from September 15, 2024, all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) not linked to National Identity Numbers (NINs) will be blocked in the country. This decision comes in the wake of increased banditry, terrorism, and fraud in recent years, with the aim of curbing criminal activities that utilize unlinked SIMs and NINs. Despite the government’s initiative to link SIMs to NINs to address criminality such as kidnapping and fraud, the extent of success remains uncertain.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to NINs, reflecting a compliance rate of 96 percent. However, concerns arise as over 50 million SIM cards face disconnection by mid-September if not linked. The linkage exercise has faced challenges due to the multi-SIM nature of Nigerians and the use of various SIM-dependent devices.
While the NIN-SIM policy aims to enhance trust and security in the digital economy, it has raised questions about its effectiveness in combating crimes. Security experts suggest that the politicization of the linkage process, lack of transparency, and inadequate collaboration with service providers may be impediments to achieving desired security outcomes.