- The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has requested a two-week extension of the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) linkage deadline, from September 14 to September 30, 2024.
- This move comes as telecoms disconnect unlinked lines after the September 14 deadline.
In an interview, NATCOMS National President, Deolu Ogunbanjo, highlighted significant issues with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal, mentioning that the portal’s inability to handle the high volume of uploads has led to delays and frustrations for both telecom operators and subscribers.
He urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the deadline to allow NIMC to enhance its portal capacity and improve the process for everyone involved.
Ogunbanjo experienced these challenges during visits to the customer service centres of major telecom operators, such as Airtel and MTN.
"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."
In August 2024, the NCC announced significant progress in the policy to link all SIMs to NINs, highlighting a 96% compliance rate at the time, saying over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to a NIN, an increase from 69.7% in January 2024.
It also said from September 15, 2024, it expects no SIM operating in Nigeria to be without a valid NIN.
According to data from the NCC, as of March 2024, there were 219 million active mobile lines across networks like MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, meaning 66 million lines are at risk of being disconnected.
The directive, originally announced in December 2020 by the federal government, was mandated by the NCC to telecom companies in December 2023, with several deadline extensions since then.
This year, the NCC moved the deadline from February 28 to April 15, then to July 31, and now to September 14, 2024. If NATCOMS' request is approved, it will mark the NCC’s fifth extension this year.
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When the NCC announced the final deadline, concerns arose over whether it would be the final. However, with NATCOMS' request, it seems it might not be.
Well, an anonymous NCC official reportedly dismissed the possibility of further deadline extensions. “We will disconnect anyone who refuses to comply; the grace period is over.”
When lines were disconnected in July 2024, MTN closed all its offices and customer service centres in Nigeria due to customer outrage. However, the NCC ordered them to be reactivated.
