Published 5th Apr, 2022

By Lolade Olu-Ojegbeje

Nigerians are lamenting the disconnection of their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards despite following the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) order to link their SIM cards with their National Identification Number (NIN).

Adesina Tosin, a sales manager, told FIJ on Tuesday that he linked his line in 2021, yet it was barred.

“I linked my NIN in 2021,” he said. “I even encouraged people to link theirs but now, my GLO line has been blocked. I reached out to GLO and I was told my NIN was invalid even though I linked the correct one.”

Daniel Ajayi, a Twitter user, also complained that his lines were barred, even though his numbers were valid on the NIMC app.

“Even after I linked my NIN to my SIM, my number was still barred. My numbers are ‘validated’ on the NIMC app, yet I’m barred. Many market women will be bothered today. Network providers’ offices will be filled up,” he wrote on Tuesday.

Another Twitter user simply identified as Adebayo narrated how his NIN was declared invalid despite being in use in the past.

“There is something happening that is becoming pervasive. People’s NIN being declared invalid. I am also a victim. I tried buying a SIM card and I was told my NIN is invalid. I got it in a local government, through a NIMC staff, three years ago,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

There is something happening that is becoming pervasive. People's NIN being declared invalid at any point of it being used . I am also a victim. I tried buying a sim card and I was told my NIN is invalid . NIN I did in a local government,by an NIMC staff since 3 years ago. .
— Realone (@adebayo260) April 5, 2022

“What is more baffling is that I opened a bank account, got my driver’s licence and upgraded my account with the same NIN. I think there is a connection between the database hack of NIN and the inexplicable invalid status of some people’s NIN.”

The NIMC had not responded to FIJ’s enquiry as of press time.

In December 2020, the federal government announced that all SIM cards be linked with users’ NIN and directed telecommunication companies to block calls from unlinked SIM cards. After an initial deadline of two weeks, the government shifted deadline nine times before a final implementation on Monday when the federal government ordered telecommunication companies to bar calls from phone numbers yet to be linked with their NIN.

The move is expected to help in fighting terrorist activities in the country.

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