The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has finally completed the federal government’s initiative to link all phone numbers to the National Identification Number (NIN). Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, made this announcement at the 2024 Annual Corporate Governance Conference in Lagos. He acknowledged the challenges Nigerians faced during the process but emphasized the importance of the initiative .
The NIN-SIM linkage policy was introduced in 2020 to enhance security and improve service delivery. The collaboration between NCC and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) streamlined the linkage process, ensuring a seamless experience for telecommunication subscribers .
He emphasized that this linkage now allows for greater accountability, particularly in identifying individuals involved in criminal activities.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy is a game-changer for Nigeria’s digital security. Introduced in December 2020, it requires all phone numbers to be linked to a verified National Identification Number (NIN). This move aims to improve security and enhance national data management .
With this policy, authorities can now easily identify individuals involved in fraudulent activities or crimes linked to a specific phone number. The NIN serves as a unique identifier, tying all records about an individual in the database and verifying their identity .
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have collaborated to streamline the NIN-SIM linkage process, ensuring a seamless experience for telecommunication subscribers. They’re working together to explore innovative approaches, enhance public awareness, and leverage each other’s expertise to overcome challenges associated with the linkage exercise.
