NCC Extends NIN-SIM Linkage Deadline By One Week

• The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline for SIM-NIN linkage by one week

• The second phase of the disconnection process was initially set for March 29, 2024

• The extension comes after concerns raised by telecom subscribers’ association and internet disruptions

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has once again extended the deadline for linking SIM cards with National Identification Numbers (NINs).

According to a senior official from the commission, the deadline for the second phase of the disconnection process has been pushed back by one week.

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“The telecom operators will not bar any subscriber yet. We will only be talking about barring after a week from tomorrow. Yes, technically, we can say the deadline has been extended by a week,” the NCC official revealed.

The initial phase of the disconnection process occurred on February 28, 2024, following NCC’s instruction to telecom operators to deactivate the services of numerous subscribers who had not linked their SIMs with their NINs. The second phase was initially set for today, March 29, while the third phase was announced to kick off on April 15, 2024.

However, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) had expressed concerns about the fairness of disconnecting any subscribers, citing difficulties some have faced in linking their SIMs with their NINs.

NATCOMS’ President, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, appealed to the NCC to extend the deadline scheduled for the disconnection of telephone lines not yet linked to NIN beyond Friday, March 29, 2024.

Another high-ranking NCC employee confirmed the extension, stating that the commission acquiesced to requests from certain civil society organizations and telecommunications rights groups.

This decision was made in response to the internet disruptions encountered in the country two weeks ago.

“The telecom operators will not bar any subscriber yet. We will only be talking about barring after a week from tomorrow. Yes, technically, we can say the deadline has been extended by a week,” the NCC official reiterated.

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The NCC’s move to extend the deadline by one week comes as a relief for subscribers who have been facing challenges in linking their SIMs with their NINs. The commission has assured that no subscriber will be barred from accessing services until after the new one-week extension period.