Telecoms Subscribers Call For Extension Of NIN-SIM Deadline

On Mar 4, 2024

The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the deadline for blocking unlinked subscribers to the national identification number (NIN) until March 31, 2024.

The NCC had directed all telecommunications operators to block unlinked subscribers’ phone lines beginning in February 2024.

The directive, which takes effect on February 28, 2024, is expected to affect more than 42 million inactive phone numbers and 3 million active lines.

Deolu Ogunbanjo, president of NATCOMS, said the NCC’s initiative to capture Nigerians is a positive step for security reasons.

He said the policy is a great way for the country to develop its database.
“But beyond that is the fact that NCC, or the erstwhile minister, has given the directive, but it’ll (the deadline) expire.

“Maybe the new EVC or minister has also given its directive to end today. But what I would have done is ask how many we have achieved. So far, there are only 12 million left.

“All we would have done right now if I were the regulator is to say that now we give you an extra 3 months or so because, whether you like it or not, it was the erstwhile minister of digital economy that gave this directive.

“And you can imagine, that has been since early 2023 or so. But beyond that is the fact that here we are, the minister is here, the new EVC is here, and it is expiring today.
Ogunbanjo asked the NCC and Aminu Maida, its executive vice-chairman, to appraise the situation to know how many subscribers are left to be linked and then give them more time.
“But because of the security situation in Nigeria for now, we are saying it is good to quickly capture everybody.

“That’s why we are not even looking at a 3-month extension, we are just looking at March 31.”

He also pleaded with the commission to ensure they extend the deadline till March 31, 2024, so that every subscriber would be captured.

Vanguard