The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has asked to extend the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) linking deadline by two weeks, from September 14 to September 30, 2024.
This request comes as telecoms disconnect unlinked lines following the September 14 deadline.
Read also: Nigeria Telcos begins barring SIMs not linked to NIN
NIMC’s portal glitch frustrates subscribers and telecom operators
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal has serious problems, according to NATCOMS National President Deolu Ogunbanjo, who raised the issues in an interview. The portal’s incapacity to manage many uploads has caused delays and annoyance for telecom operators and subscribers.
In order to enable NIMC to expand the functionality of its platform and better the experience for all parties, he implored the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the deadline.
Ogunbanjo encountered these difficulties when visiting the customer support offices of significant telecom providers, including MTN and Airtel.
“It was annoying how slowly uploads were happening, and there was a noticeable congestion. It was evident that the NIMC interface was unable to handle the increase in uploads, placing an excessive burden on telecom providers and their customers.”
NCC’s statistics on linked and unlinked lines
The NCC reported significant advancements in the policy to link all SIMs to NINs in August 2024. They highlighted a 96% compliance rate then and stated that over 153 million SIMs had been successfully linked to an NIN, up from 69.7% in January 2024.
Furthermore, it stated that as of September 15, 2024, no SIM card operating in Nigeria is expected to be without a valid NIN.
According to NCC data, 219 million active mobile lines were across networks like MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile as of March 2024. This means that 66 million lines might be removed.
Read also: Nigeria sets NIN-SIM linkage final deadline to September 14th
Previous deadline extensions
The NCC ordered telecom providers to comply with the instructions, which the federal government first made public in December 2020. Since then, multiple deadline extensions have been granted.
The deadline was originally set on February 28 but was pushed by the NCC to April 15, then July 31, and now to September 14, 2024. If NATCOMS’ request is granted, it will mark the NCC’s fifth extension this year.
There were questions about whether the deadline issued by the NCC would be the last one. But it appears that NATCOMS’s request suggests it might not be.
According to reports, a non-identifying NCC official ruled out the prospect of additional deadline extensions. “The grace period is over; we will disconnect anyone who refuses to comply.”
Due to outrage from customers, MTN closed all of its offices and customer care centres in Nigeria when lines were barred in July 2024. However, the NCC mandated that they be reactivated.