The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that telecommunication companies that fail to comply with the directive to block Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards not linked to National Identification Numbers (NINs) will be punished.
Top Society reports that NCC had in December 2023 had 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.
Read Also: Ghana Passes Anti-LGBTQ Law
The telecoms regulator in a statement on Wednesday reaffirmed its stance to block any phone lines without NIN and ruled out an extension of the deadline.
Speaking with Punch on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Reuben Mouka, said any telecom operator that fails to comply with the directive will face sanctions.
He said,
“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 sanctioned.”
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 compulsory linkage began in December 2020, when the federal government, through the NCC, directed telcos to block calls from unregistered and unlinked NINs.
Read Also: I Take Full Responsibility For The Adverse Outcome of My Policy Reforms – Tinubu
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.
