The Federal Government, on Monday has directed telecommunications operators in the country to bar all outgoing calls of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards not yet linked with the National Identification Number (NIN).
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who made this announcement in a press statement issued on Monday, explained that the directive was part of the implementation of the NIN-SIM linkage Policy of the government.
With the development, all unlinked networks users of MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile, will not be able to make calls from today, April 4, 2022.
In the statement which was jointly signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Ikechukwu Adinde; and Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke, noted that all is set for the Federal Government to kickstart the implementation of the NIN-SIM Policy.
Recall that the FG had mandated telecommunications subscribers to link their SIMs with their NINs in December 2020. The government noted that the move was part of its administration’s security and social policies.
Giving updates in the statement, Pantami disclosed that over 125 million SIM cards have had their NINs submitted for linkage, verification and authentication while the NIMC has issued over 78 million NINs till date.
The statement partly reads, “Accordingly, Mr. President graciously approved the many requests to extend deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage.
“At this point, however, Government has determined that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents. The implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria.
“Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022.
“Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines. Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centres and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.”
