Several Nigerian telecom operators have temporarily suspended SIM-related services including SIM swaps, upgrades, and NIN linking, following a notice from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) announcing a system upgrade. Operators such as MTN, Airtel and Globacom, said the temporary pause began on June 29 and will run through July 2, 2025. The decision applies to both onsite patrons and service personnel throughout the nation.
What’s Happening at NIMC?
The National Identity Number (NIN) verification service of the NIMC is being transferred to an upgraded, potentially more robust platform. The revamp aims to boost system efficiency, minimize downtime and enhance security, all of which are significant for a database that serves various purposes such as mobile SIM registration and government services.
NIMC has issued a statement indicating that some integration services will remain unavailable temporarily while the migration is ongoing. Real-time NIN verification for SIM registration, swaps, and upgrades is a crucial factor for telecoms.
The Impacts: Beyond Just Inconvenience
In a country where mobile phones are the primary means of conducting banking, communication, and business for millions, allowing SIM-based services to take three days off can have significant consequences.
National processes have been bottlenecked by NIMC’s backend issues in the past. The NIN-SIM linkage rush in 2021 was a prime example of similar disruptions, with millions of people being stuck in queues for days due to system slowdown and verification failures.
What is the issue here: why do these upgrades come with a time delay?
It’s 2025. Almost no disruption is experienced by countries with larger populations and complex identity systems when they achieve backend improvements. It’s time for NIMC to make progress on strengthening their platform. However, why aren’t these migrations being carried out in the background and properly redone?
Telcos Issue Public Notices
Several telecom companies have quickly sought to manage customer expectations. For example, MTN Nigeria sent SMS notifications and shared the update on social media platforms.
Telecoms distributed analogous messages, advising customers to patiently wait for the migration process and announcing their intention to restore full service once it is finalized.
The Bigger Picture: A System That Still Feels Fragile
Although it may be temporary, this situation highlights the importance of a single centralized identity system in Nigeria, which has become increasingly dependent on critical services.
We’ve reached a point where banks, telcos, and even hospitals rely on NIN verification. The system’s failure, even for a brief period, can cause disruptions in entire sectors. The focus should be on more than just technology, as it is also about public trust. Those who use these systems must have faith in their reliability, security measures, and ability to scale.
Final Thoughts
Although this upgrade of the NIMC is progressing, it also underscores the need for better infrastructure planning, closer coordination with private sector players, and less disruptive implementation timelines. Identity systems in Nigeria must be reliable and secure, especially during upgrades.
It’s our wish that, by the end of this migration, we can continue with business as usual while also moving towards a more stable and reliable NIN infrastructure.
