The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at streamlining processes associated with the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage.
This collaborative effort was disclosed in a statement jointly released by Ayodele Babalola, Technical Adviser for Media and Communications to the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, and Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC.
The collaboration between NIMC and NCC is designed to optimize resources and expertise across multiple fronts to enhance the efficiency of the NIN-SIM linkage process. Central to this partnership is the commitment to harmonize regulations, facilitating a smoother experience for telecom subscribers.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The statement outlined several focal points for collaboration between the two agencies:
- Seamless Experience for Subscribers: NIMC and NCC will work together to ensure a seamless experience for telecom subscribers, exploring innovative methods to expedite NIN verification during SIM registration and activation.
- Public Awareness and Education: Both agencies will collaborate on initiatives to raise public awareness and understanding of NIN-SIM linkage requirements. This will include educational campaigns, stakeholder training sessions, and the dissemination of accurate information to promote compliance.
- Data Verification and Validation: NIMC will provide support to NCC in verifying NINs associated with SIM registrations. Leveraging NIMC’s robust database and authentication infrastructure, telecom operators will validate submitted NINs while maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
- Policy Alignment: NIMC and NCC will work to align policies and regulatory frameworks, facilitating seamless integration of NIN-SIM linkage processes within the telecommunications ecosystem. This includes harmonizing data protection and privacy regulations to safeguard subscriber information.
Background
The NIN-SIM linkage policy was initially introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2020, mandating all telephone users to link their SIMs with their NINs.
In response to the directive issued by the NCC in December last year, telecom operators, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, were required to implement full network barring on phone lines lacking linked NINs by February 28, 2024.
Going forward, subscribers who have submitted their NINs but remain unverified will face full barring by March 29, 2024, for instances where five or more lines are linked to an unverified NIN. For cases where less than five lines are linked to an unverified NIN, barring will occur by April 15, 2024.
The ongoing collaboration between NIMC and NCC aims to address challenges associated with the NIN-SIM linkage exercise, ensuring its successful implementation and contributing to national development efforts.
The enrolment for NIN continues to be a continuous exercise, serving as a prerequisite for accessing services in telecoms, banking, immigration, and various other government services.
