NCC Insists On SIM Linkage To NIN As Condition To Unblock

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has insisted that telecom providers will only unblock consumers, whose Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards are barred when their National Identification Numbers (NINs) are linked.

NCC announced this to correct the viral misinformation on social media and on some websites.

The commission said the link and accompanying narrative represent patent misinformation and disinformation certainly designed to mislead the general public about the SIM cards that are barred from making calls, due to non-linkage with NIN at the set deadline.

“The misleading, viral message mischievously displays NCC logo and ostensibly promises members of the public that, by clicking the web link and following further instructions in that regard, subscribers with barred SIM cards can unbar such SIMs across mobile networks without a valid NIN”, stated Ikechukwu Adinde
Director, Public Affairs of the commission.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NCC wishes to state categorically that it never issued such statement, directing subscribers or indicating that subscribers can unbar their SIM without a NIN. As such, the originators and peddlers of the spurious message were out to mischievously mislead unsuspecting members of public. Therefore, their message should be disregarded”.

The NCC noted that as the national regulatory authority for telecommunications in Nigeria, and a co-driver of the process of the NIN-SIM linkage with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as directed by the Federal Government, will not, under any circumstance, act contrary to Federal Government’s directive to MNOs to bar SIMs cards that are not linked to NINs at the expiration of the last deadline given for the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.

Having disclaimed the false viral message, the Commission wishes to officially inform affected telecom subscribers on how they can get their SIMs actively connected to make calls.

First, for subscribers that have not registered for their NIN, what to do is to get their SIM registered at accredited centres across the country and then link the NIN with their SIM cards through channels provided by their service providers.

Second, for subscribers with registered NINs, what to do is to simply go and link the NIN with their SIMs through channels provided by their service providers.

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