The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunication companies to extend the deadline for the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers (NINs) from April 15, 2024, to July 31, 2024, News About Nigeria reports.
A reliable source within the telecommunication sector disclosed this information to Sunday Punch on Saturday, stating that the decision was communicated to telcos via a letter after careful consideration of various challenges and requests for extensions.
The source explained that the extension specifically applies to people who have four SIMs linked to just one phone line.
The initial disconnection process, which commenced in February, was rolled out in three phases.
The first phase took place on February 28, 2024, followed by the second phase on March 29, 2024.
Originally slated for April 15, 2024, the third phase has now been rescheduled to begin on July 31, 2024.
During the initial deadline on February 28, 2024, the NCC reported that approximately 40 million lines not linked to NINs were barred.
Although the exact number of lines affected by Friday’s deadline remains unclear, telecom companies are expected to proceed with disconnecting lines not linked to NINs.
Furthermore, telecom operators have been instructed to prioritise the verification of existing subscribers over new ones during this extended period.
The SIM-NIN linkage was initially introduced by the federal government in December 2020, requiring all telephone line users in Nigeria to associate their SIM cards with their NIN.
The NCC’s directive follows the Central Bank of Nigeria’s announcement in December regarding the freezing of accounts lacking a Bank Verification Number (BVN) or NIN, starting in April 2024.
The circular mandated deposit money banks to place a ‘Post No Debit’ restriction on accounts without BVN or NIN.
