NIN-SIM linkage: We’re collaborating with NCC, NIMC to unblock barred lines, says telecoms union

Telcos, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), say they are in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to unbarred unlinked lines in Nigeria.

Adejumoke Ajala, head for regulatory services, ALTON, said this at the ‘Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF22)’, organised by Paradigm Initiative on Wednesday in Lagos.

Speaking to journalists, Ajala said the blockage of subscribers lines had been a major challenge for the group.

Last month, the federal government directed telecommunication companies to restrict unlinked SIMs from making calls.

Unlinked lines are subscriber identity module (SIM) cards not yet linked with the National Identification Number (NIN).

“It has been a major challenge. We have had daily meetings with the NCC and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to address these issues,” she said.

“We want citizens to register as soon as possible and have their NINs, and then submit their names as soon as possible.

“With the collaborations, we are having, we hope to issue as fast as possible the NINs to the citizens and unbar their lines.”

Ajala added that letters had been sent out to the NCC and Isa Pantami, minister of communication and digital economy.

“We are believing that they would look at our letters and give heed to them. We have started seeing some of the appeals we have made, and they are giving approvals to those things.

“As soon as possible, I am sure things like this will thin out. Right now, it is really tough, knowing that the hammer hit a few weeks ago.

“We hope that as soon as NIMC understands its process and they are able to give us access to do a lot of bulk verifications, we would be able to see that things like that work a bit seamlessly.”