NCC to deactivate unlinked sim cards by end of February

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) warned that SIM cards that are not linked to the owners’ National Identity Number (NIN) will be deactivated by the end of February.

NCC vice chairman, Aminu Maida, said this in an introductory meeting with the media in Abuja.

Maida’s announcement follows a 2021 policy requiring NIN linkage with SIMs.

“Pre-registered or illegally registered SIM has been a challenge for a long time,” Maida said.

“In 2021, there was a policy to link NIN with SIMs thinking that such will take care of the problem but people in the value chain lashed on loophole,

“By the end of this month, SIMs without NIN will no longer work.”

Maida also reaffirmed NCC collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and relevant security agencies in telecommunication-linked crimes in the country.

He, however, noted that the degree of success achieved so far could not be publicly celebrated yet.

The NCC boss, while speaking on network tariffs and other irregularities on the part of licensed network providers, said the commission is equally collaborating with the industry players.

He however assured consumers of their loyalty, stressing that the NCC’s allegiance is first to Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the commission is also considering the deployment of satellite broadband to provide the necessary coverage across the country and drive the attainment of the 70 percent Broadband penetration target by 2025.