The Nigerian Communications Commission has said telecommunication companies that fail to comply with the directive to block Subscriber Identity Module cards not linked to National Identification Numbers will face sanctions.
The Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Mouka, told our correspondent on Thursday.
According to Mouka, the regulatory directive mandates telecom operators to comply, and any non-compliance will result in sanctions.
The NCC Director stated, “It is not an issue whether the telcos have started complying or not. We have asked to link the SIM cards to NIN. We have given our directives, and we expect compliance. So, if there is any evidence of non-compliance, what follows would be sanction.
Asked when this sanction would commence, Mouka said, “We can’t say this is the time we would begin to start sanctioning. That also requires a regulatory process. But any operator that fails to comply will be sanctioned.”
The telecom regulator had in December asked telcos to bar an estimated 12 million lines that have not been linked to the owners’ NINs after the expiration of the February 28, 2024, deadline.
On Wednesday, the NCC reaffirmed its stance on the matter and ruled out an extension of the deadline.
The telecom operators who spoke to our correspondent aligned with the regulator to disconnect SIMs not linked to NIN.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, said telecom operators would adhere to the NCC’s directive.
Adebayo stated, “About 12 million SIM cards may not have been linked to NIN. Some of these SIM cards work on modems and WiFi devices.
“According to the regulatory directives, those numbers that are not properly linked to NIN will have services withdrawn by midnight today. We stand by that regulatory directive, and we are going to comply.”
The compulsory linkage began in December 2020, when the federal government, through the NCC, directed telcos to block calls from unregistered and unlinked NINs.
Since then, there have been extensions, but over 12 million SIMs still remain unlinked to NIN.
The move by the FG to mandate the linking of phone numbers was to enhance security measures in the country. The directive aimed to streamline the identification process and improve accountability for individuals associated with specific phone lines.
