66 Million Phone Users Face Risk of Disconnection in September Following NCC’s Ultimatum

In a bid to fortify the digital economy and curb the menace of cybercrime, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set its sights on a seemingly elusive target: the mandatory linkage of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs). With a new deadline of September 14, 2024, looming large, a staggering 66.01 million lines are now teetering on the brink of disconnection.

The NCC’s unyielding pursuit of this goal has been marked by multiple deadlines, each one more stringent than the last. Despite the regulator’s claims of an “impressive compliance rate of 96 percent,” with 153 million lines already linked to NINs, the remaining 66 million lines represent a significant challenge.

The SIM-NIN linkage initiative, launched in 2020, has been a long and winding road, punctuated by false starts and public outcry. In December 2023, the NCC announced a series of “final” deadlines, only to extend them repeatedly in the face of widespread discontent. The most recent debacle occurred in July, when some mobile network operators began barring lines not linked with a NIN, sparking violence and prompting the NCC to intervene.

As the September deadline draws near, the NCC is pulling out all the stops to achieve 100 percent compliance. In a statement, Director of Public Affairs Reuben Muoka emphasized the critical nature of the SIM-NIN linkage, citing its potential to enhance security, reduce fraud and cybercrime, and foster greater participation in e-commerce and digital banking.

However, the question remains: will the NCC’s efforts be enough to convince the remaining 66 million line holders to comply? Only time will tell if this latest deadline will be the final one, or just another milestone in the regulator’s ongoing quest for a secure digital economy.

Source: businessday