By Milcah Tanimu

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has firmly stated that there will be no extension beyond the February 28, 2024 deadline for linking Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to National Identification Numbers (NIN). Consequently, telecommunications companies have been instructed to deactivate 12 million lines that remain unlinked to their owners’ NINs after the deadline expired.

Reuben Mouka, the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, confirmed this decision to The PUNCH on Wednesday, reiterating that no extension was granted. He emphasized, “We already issued a public notice in this regard… If there was an extension, NCC would have communicated that. But as far as I know, there is no extension.”

In a notice issued in December 2023, the NCC had directed telcos to deactivate SIMs not linked to NINs by February 28, 2024. Additionally, Global Satellite Mobile Communications firms were instructed to deactivate SIMs whose NINs had been submitted but not verified by March 29, 2024, and to suspend services for lines with fewer than five connections to an unverified NIN by April 15, 2024.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), confirmed that telecom operators would comply with the NCC’s directive