The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has officially announced that all telecommunications operators in Nigeria have successfully migrated to its upgraded National Identification Number (NIN) verification platform, NINAuth.
This migration represents a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. According to NIMC, the new system promises enhanced data security, improved service delivery, and greater user control over personal information.
All Nigerian telecom providers have successfully switched to NINAuth, the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) improved National Identification Number (NIN) verification platform.
An important turning point in the development of Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem is this migration. The new system offers better service delivery, increased user control over personal data, and improved data security, according to NIMC.
Why NINAuth Is Important
NINAuth, which was created internally by NIMC, takes the role of the prior verification platform and is intended to offer telecom services seamless, safe, and easy identity identification. It facilitates real-time NIN verification, which is essential for number porting, SIM swapping, SIM registration, and number replacement.
Dr. Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, stressed that the platform aligns with global privacy standards and gives Nigerians direct control over their identity data. “The goal is to place control of identity data in the hands of the rightful owners, the Nigerian people,” he said.
Migration Challenges
There were some problems with the relocation, which started about June 26, 2025. Telecom companies suspended SIM-related services for more than three weeks due to technical issues, causing extensive disruptions. Millions of Nigerians were consequently unable to port their numbers, register new SIMs, or make swaps.
These disruptions were ascribed to unanticipated integration issues by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). While consumer advocacy groups criticized the lack of public education throughout the shift, many subscribers expressed their anger.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, NIMC attested that by July 30, 2025, the NINAuth platform was completely functional.
Telcos Now Handle SIM Registration Problems
NIMC made it clear that it will no longer be handling SIM registration issues as part of the shift. Telecom companies like MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile will now handle all SIM registration difficulties directly, including unsuccessful NIN verification, SIM swap problems, and registration errors.
Adegoke clarified that “NIMC is not responsible for any issues arising from new SIM registration, SIM swap, or SIM migration.” For a solution, he advised consumers to get in touch with their service providers.
It is anticipated that this change will expedite the process for subscribers by removing the back-and-forth communication that NIMC and the telcos had been experiencing.
What Subscribers Should Expect
The modification will allow subscribers to handle SIM-related difficulties more quickly and effectively. Customers can now handle all issues with SIM registration directly with their mobile service providers rather than going to a NIMC office.
To prevent such issues, NIMC encourages users to make sure their NIN information—including name, birthdate, and other personal details—matches their SIM registration information.
Future Developments
The switch to NINAuth is a component of Nigeria’s larger strategy to fortify its framework for digital identity. More than 125 million SIMs have been connected to NINs since the federal government required NIN-SIM linking in 2020. Going forward, consumers may anticipate more secure and efficient services thanks to the upgraded infrastructure.
The successful migration represents a step toward a more secure and effective digital identity system, even though communication and coordination issues were apparent during the shift. Now that telecoms are solely in charge of SIM registration issues, customers ought to experience quicker fixes and better service.
.
