The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning directing telecoms subscribers to be very cautious with their National Identification Number (NIN) and not allow it to be linked with another person’s Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, no matter how close the person is to them.
The Commission gave the warning during its third run Telecom Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR) programme, broadcast live on Human Rights Radio, 101.1 FM in Abuja recently. The event was hosted on the platform of ‘NCC Digital Signature on Radio’.
NCC’s Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen while speaking during the radio programme focused on ‘the Benefits of NIN-SIM Integration’, said “On no account should a telecom consumer, however circumstanced, allow another person to register a SIM with another person’s NIN.”
Idehen noted that compliance with this advice will protect the true owner of the NIN from any liabilities or negative consequences arising from the use of other person’s SIM.
“If the person, whose SIM is linked to your line use his own SIM to commit crimes or any form of atrocities, it is easy to be traced to you and then, you will be dealt with because the SIM is linked to your NIN”, he said.
The programme which featured a phone-in-segment that lasted two hours had consumers within Nigeria and in the diaspora, notably from the United Kingdom (UK), Russia and neighbouring countries like Ghana, among others call and get clarifications on concerns they had regarding the ongoing NIN-SIM integration in Nigeria.
The programme largely focused on educating consumers on NIN and its purpose, process of obtaining NIN, why consumers are being asked to submit their NIN to their Mobile Network Service Providers, the benefits of NIN-SIM linkage, the relationship between NIN and Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, the step-by-step approach to linking NIN to SIM, and the role and uses of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) *346# in the NIN-SIM integration activities.
The programme also had in attendance, representatives from mobile operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile, Corporate Communication, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Kayode Adegoke and other officials from the commission.
Efosa was joined in the studio by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who was represented by an Assistant Director in the department, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan; and a Deputy Director, Projects Department of NCC, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, who jointly educated consumers on the various aspects of the NIN-SIM integration exercise.
During the radio programme, telecoms consumers were reminded repeatedly of the October 31, 2021 deadline for NIN-SIM integration. The Federal Government had extended the deadline earlier giving for the completion of the NIN-SIM linkage to 31st October 2021.
