The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised an alarm that some individuals are in possession of more than 100,000 SIM cards each.
The Commission stated this in a press statement, Vol. 2004/Vol.2/No. 12, dated 28 August 2024 and issued by its Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.
NCC declared that it “uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards—some exceeding 100,000.”
It stated that it made the discovery through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The telecom regulatory agency however restated its commitment to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs.
It added that it thereby, by the commitment, sought to safeguard national security and ensure the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.
In line with the commitment, the NCC gave 14 September, 2024 as the final deadline for all subscribers to ensure compliance with the NIN-SIM Linkage directive.
It also announced that it has made a significant progress in the policy issued by the Federal Government in 2020 to link all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs).
As contained in the statement, over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to a NIN, to date, “reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96 per cent, a substantial increase from 69.7 per cent in January 2024.”
It further stated: “As we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 per cent compliance.
“The complete linkage of all SIM cards to NIN is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy.
“By verifying all mobile users, this policy strengthens confidence in digital transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and cybercrime.
“[It also] supports greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services. This, in turn, promotes financial inclusion and drives economic growth.
“To ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the NCC has directed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024.
“Effective September 15, 2024, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN.
“We urge all members of the public who have not yet completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or who have faced issues due to verification mismatches, to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline.
“Alternatively, the approved self-service portals are available for this purpose.”
The NCC also reminded the public that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offences, punishable by imprisonment and fines.
“We encourage citizens to report any such activities to the Commission via our toll-free line (622) or through our social media platforms,” it added.
The Commission expressed it appreciation to the general public for its continued cooperation, noting that it would continue to work together with Nigerians to strengthen the national digital ecosystem.
