The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that it will not extend the February 28 deadline for the linkage of the Subscribers’ Identity Modules (SIM) with the National Identity Numbers (NIN). NCC stated this on Thursday, February 29. The Commission insisted that it had given adequate notice to subscribers through various platforms of its intention to bar lines that had not been linked with NIN. NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka told our correspondent that the commission would not change its stance on the matter. It was gathered that the development has put pressure on the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, as Nigerians thronged their offices nationwide to beat the deadline. It was gathered that no fewer than 12 million telephone lines would be barred from midnight of February 28th as a result of NCC’s deadline. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have also said that they would comply with the directive of the regulatory body as citizens have been told for more than three years now about the imperative of linking their SIM with NIN. According to the chairman, of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, telecom operators had no choice but to comply with the NCC’s directive. Adebayo confirmed that no fewer than 12 million lines out of the 224 million active lines risked deactivation all around the country. Adebayo said: “About 12 million SIM cards may not have been linked to NIN. Some of these SIM cards work on modems and mifi devices. According to the regulatory directives, those numbers that are not properly linked to NIN will have services withdrawn to them by midnight of 28th February. We stand by that regulatory directive and we are going to comply.” Speaking on the possibility of an extension of the deadline, Adebayo said no contrary directive has been communicated to operators on the issue from the NCC. The regulator has made it clear that there won’t be any further extension. Let us remember that this ought to have happened last year, but it was extended by the regulator till the 28th of February, 2024, Adebayo stated. Meanwhile, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has disclosed that it would continue to respond to requests for the NIN as fresh applicants thronged its offices nationwide. Its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, acknowledged the surge in the number of applicants but insisted that the Commission had opened various platforms to ease registration processes.
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