All Nigerian telecom companies have successfully migrated to the National Identity Management Commission’s upgraded National Identification Number verification platform, known as NINAuth.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the identity regulator stated that the development would improve service delivery, boost digital trust throughout the nation’s identity ecosystem, and improve data protection.
According to Lanre Yusuf, director of IT/IDD at NIMC, telecom operators are now completely integrated with the platform, allowing for continuous identity verification services.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to securing digital identity and empowering Nigerians with greater control over their personal data,” Yusuf said.
What NINAuth platform offers
The NINAuth platform, which was developed internally by NIMC, offers easier and safer access to identity verification services.
It facilitates easier access to digital and telecom services, supports more seamless user authentication, and guarantees higher privacy standards.
According to Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, the platform allows NIN holders greater control over who can access their data.
“The goal is to place control of identity data in the hands of the rightful owners, the Nigerian people,” Adegoke told The PUNCH.
Service disruptions due to the migration process
The announcement follows weeks of service interruptions brought on by the migration process for telecom companies.
On or around June 26, 2025, NIMC started moving to Ninauth, a more secure system, to verify NINs for SIM registration, swaps, replacements, and number porting.
The previous platform became unreliable due to technical issues during the migration, forcing operators such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile to suspend SIM-related services for more than three weeks. In addition to mobile communication, digital banking and other phone-based services were also impacted.
While collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Commission and NIMC to restore access, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria advised users to postpone SIM-related requests during the outage.
Telcos to complete integrating the upgraded NIN verification platform
According to NIMC, the platform was operational, but operators needed to finish integrating the new system.
NIMC urged the public to contact their telecom companies directly if they had problems with SIM registration, swaps, migration, or retrieval (“welcome back”).
After the migration was completed, the Commission reaffirmed its dedication to providing safe and easy-to-use digital identity services and guaranteed that its platforms for authentication and verification would continue to function properly.