The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ruled out an extension of the February 28, 2024 deadline for the linkage of Subscriber Identity Module cards to National Identification Numbers.

 As a result, telecommunication companies have been directed to bar 12 million lines that have not been linked to their owners’ NINs after the expiration of the deadline.

The NCC had asked telecoms to bar SIMs that had not been linked to their owners’ NINs by February 28, 2024.

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

Meanwhile, since the NCC first ordered the suspension of SIM cards without NIN on December 15, 2020, there has been a rapid increase in the number of people obtaining their NINs.

Between the period the order was given and the second deadline date, January 19, 2021, Nigerian mobile operators received 47.8m new submissions from active subscribers.