With the September 15 deadline for linking National Identification Numbers (NIN) to Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards fast approaching, many Nigerians are facing significant challenges in completing the process.
Subscribers have voiced their frustration over the difficulties they encounter when trying to upload their details on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal, a critical step in the linkage process.
Adeolu Ogungbanjo, President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), described the situation as “terrible” after visiting several telecom centers, including those of major service providers like MTN and Airtel. He explained that the congestion and technical issues with the NIMC portal are creating serious obstacles for subscribers who are racing against time to meet the deadline.
“We urge the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and NIMC to work together to improve the portal’s capacity, reduce congestion at telecom centers, and provide adequate support staff to ensure a seamless process,” Ogungbanjo said during an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday. He warned that unless these issues are addressed urgently, many subscribers might not be able to complete the NIN-SIM linkage before the deadline.
Ogungbanjo highlighted that the NIMC website often becomes overwhelmed when large numbers of people try to access it simultaneously. “The congestion happens because too many people wait until the last minute to try and access the website,” he noted. He urged NIMC to expand the website’s capacity to accommodate the high traffic and ensure that all Nigerians have a fair chance to link their NIN to their SIM cards without further complications.
This concern comes despite the NCC’s announcement nearly two weeks ago that over 153 million SIM cards have already been successfully linked to NINs, representing a 96% compliance rate. However, with about 4% of SIMs still unlinked, subscribers worry that these remaining users may miss the deadline due to the current technical difficulties.
Earlier in the year, NIMC and NCC formed a strategic partnership to streamline the NIN-SIM linkage process. This collaboration aimed to enhance public awareness and understanding of the linkage requirements through educational campaigns, training sessions for stakeholders, and the dissemination of accurate information to the public. Despite these efforts, the ongoing challenges indicate that more work is needed to ensure that all subscribers can complete the process smoothly.
Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, reiterated the agency’s commitment to facilitating the NIN-SIM linkage. He emphasized that NIMC’s primary responsibility is to provide NINs to Nigerians and ensure that telecommunications companies link these numbers to the respective SIM cards. “Our centers are open and fully functional, with adequate capacity to enroll and issue NINs to citizens,” Adegoke told The PUNCH. He added that NIMC has been proactive in educating Nigerians about the process through various social media platforms, providing clear guidelines to help them navigate the linkage process.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy, introduced by the Nigerian government in 2020, aims to enhance national security and reduce fraudulent activities. The NCC has stated that the exercise is crucial for improving the integrity of the mobile network and curbing illegal activities that exploit unregistered SIM cards.
Despite these intentions, the technical difficulties and congestion reported by subscribers highlight the need for immediate intervention to ensure that the remaining 4% of SIM cards are linked before the deadline. The situation is particularly pressing given the recent reports from MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa. According to their financial results for the period ending June 30, 2024, MTN barred 8.6 million lines, and Airtel verified 8.7 million customers, with 4.9 million still unverified, in response to the NCC’s directive.