Deadline for NIN Sim Registration and When NCC Will Block Sim Cards

As the frenzy for the NIN sim registration deadline continues to sweep the country. It has become imperative for us to clear some misconceptions about when NCC will block sim cards. We have been getting inquiries ranging across different questions like When is the deadline for SIM registration, when will Sim cards be blocked, When is NIN registration closing, as well as when will Sim registration resume in Nigeria.

This and many more are current issues we shall be addressing in our update today. Our team was in contact with some authorities and they revealed new developing stories including the deadline for NIN Sim registration and when NCC will block Sim cards.

Deadline for NIN Sim Registration and When NCC Will Block

Contrary to popular belief that NCC has issued a deadline for Sim registration. Officials from the commission made it known that for now, the main priority is to ensure everyone enrolls for NIN Sim registration. That is to say, there are no plans to block Sim cards anytime soon. On the other hand, a new deadline for NIN registration can be issued but not anytime soon.

Additionally, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Mr Isa Pantami. Through his spokesperson, disclosed the ministry is doing everything to ensure the exercise keeps going smoothly. While enjoining the general public to enrol for NIN. Authorities went further, stating no room would be given to non-registered Sim cards to function.

In another development, NCC disclosed as false, the insinuation in some quarters that BVN automatically gives one access to NIN without registration. Disregard such information as BVN offers no automatic link to NIN. Replacement and activation of old Sim cards have also commenced. NIN registration still remains compulsory for the activation of old Sim cards.

We have already outlined the process on How to Link NIN to MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat. Read it up and ensure you do so before the NIN deadline.

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Below are some of the responses we got concerning your inquiries.

When is NIN Registration Closing

NIN registration is still going on. Nonetheless, an extension of a few weeks has been granted after the general public decried plans to block Sims not registered recently.

To clarify, the official deadline for the national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise till December 31, 2021. However, the previous deadline was October 31, which has now been moved to December 31, 2021. And the Government has also shifted the deadline further to March 31, 2022. So we advise you to try your possible best to meet up this specified deadline.

When will Sim cards be blocked?

Concerning when NCC will block Sim cards, information available to us has it that only non-registered Sim cards have been blocked upon expiration of the deadline for NIN Sim Registration.

When will Sim Registration Resume in Nigeria

Sim registrations will commence after currently existing Sims have been linked. However, NIN to Sim link will now be compulsory for any new Sim. Failure to do so leads to blocking of the Sim.

In conclusion, make sure you Subscribe to our Newsletter here at Moden News for subsequent updates. And equally, share your thoughts and ask questions, via the comment section.

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NIN-SIM Linkage: The Federal Government Applauds Compliance and Orders Telcos to Ban Outgoing Calls on Unlinked Lines Beginning April 4, 2022

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has thanked Nigerians and Legal Residents on behalf of the Federal Government for their assistance during the exercise to link the National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).

Over 125 million SIMs have submitted their NINs for quick linking, verification, and validation.
Similarly, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued nearly 78 million unique NINs.

As part of the administration’s security and social initiatives, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, directed the execution and initiation of the exercise in December 2020. Multiple dates for the NIN-SIM connection have been extended to allow Nigerians to comply with the Policy easily. The FG also considered the strong requests made in the past by many groups, including the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies, and a host of others, for the extension of deadlines.

As a result, Mr. President generously allowed the numerous petitions to extend the NIN-SIM linking deadlines. At this stage, however, the government has judged that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation may proceed, as equipment to assure compliance by citizens and legal residents has already been put in place. The implementation influences the government’s strategic planning, especially regarding security and socioeconomic predictions.

Additionally

President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the Policy’s implementation, which will begin on April 4, 2022. As a result, the Federal Government has asked all telcos in Nigeria to rigidly implement the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new). Outgoing calls will be restricted for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linking Policy from April 4, 2022. Subscribers to such lines are encouraged to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos may remove the limitation from their lines. Affected persons should register for their NINs at specified centers and then link the NINs to their SIMs using the channels given by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.

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Professor Pantami expresses his gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for his unwavering support. He also praises the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, their Management and Staff, and other notable bodies whose efforts contributed to the exercise’s monumental success. The Minister also thanks the telecommunications companies for their contributions to the success.

The Honourable Minister also emphasized that NIN enrollment is a continuous process and that NIN is required for service in telcos, banks, the Nigerian Immigration Service, and several other government services. He also urged Nigerians and legal residents to visit NIN registration centers to enroll and receive valid NC.

Importantly, don’t hesitate to ask questions using the comment section, if you are confused in any way.

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