*Nigerian telecoms subscribers express frustrations over current difficulties being encountered in uploading their biometric details on the National Identity Management Commission鈥檚 portal over poor connectivity, as the Nigerian Communications Commission affirms September 15, 2024, as the 鈥榝inal deadline鈥� for linking National Identification Numbers to Subscriber Identity Module Cards in the country

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

Scores of Nigerian telecoms subscribers have expressed frustration over the current difficulties they encounter uploading their biometric details on the National Identity Management Commission鈥檚 (NIMC) portal ahead of the September 15, 2024, deadline which the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently announced for linking subscribers鈥� National Identification Numbers (NINs) to their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards in the West African country.

绿帽献妻 had reported the NCC as the country鈥檚 telecoms sector regulatory Commission recently announced that the regulators would round off the NIN-SIM integration process.

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, in a statement said the Commission would continue to work with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, thereby safeguarding national security and ensuring the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.

Mandatory verification, linkage of SIMs to NINs end by September 14, says NCC

Muoka disclosed in order to ensure full compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, the Commission has directed all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to complete the mandatory verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024.

The NCC stated: 鈥淓ffective September 15, 2024, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN.

鈥淲e 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.鈥�

The Commission further said: 鈥淎lternatively, the approved self-service portals are available for this purpose鈥�, warning against the use of pre-registered SIMs that is a criminal offence, which is punishable by imprisonment and fines.

鈥淲e encourage citizens to report any such activities to the Commission via our toll-free line (622) or through our social media platforms.鈥�

The Commission as well commended the general public for continued cooperation as 鈥渨e work together to strengthen Nigeria鈥檚 digital ecosystem,鈥� Muoka stated.

Connection to portal 鈥榲ery low鈥�, MNOs acknowledge network issues 聽聽聽

Several telecoms consumers as of Friday, September 6 said the NIN-SIM linkage procedure had been relatively slow in connection with the reported inability of staff of some Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), in Lagos State.

A visit to the Globacom office by Allen-Opebi Roundabout Friday also revealed how frustrating the NIN-SIM integration has become in just about week to the stipulated deadline.

This publication observed that as seated subscribers in the Telco鈥檚 office were complaining about keeping waiting endlessly, customer service executives also mentioned their frustration in connecting to the portal to do their job.

A female customer, who also complained loudly in the hearing of equally impatient telecoms consumers waiting to be attended in the office said: 鈥淲e are indeed sorry for keeping you waiting. The network connection to the portal is very low.鈥�

Likewise, our reporter observed that at about 5.20p.m. Friday, there were yet several telecoms consumers awaiting their turns for the NIN-SIM linkage at the Allen-Opebi Roundabout MTN Nigeria office adjacent to Glo office, in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to some subscribers, the current portal issues have made it impossible to effectively finish up the NIN-SIM linkage in time ahead of the deadline.

NATCOMS: NCC, NIMC should improve capacity of portal, reduce congestion at telecoms centres

Reacting the extant issues both telecoms consumers and service providers are faced with in regard to the NIN-SIM integration process across the country, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), also described the situation as “terrible” after visiting some telecoms centres, including MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, in Lagos, earlier this week.in the week.

Ogunbanjo stated: 鈥淲e urge the NCC and NIMC to work together to improve the portal鈥檚 capacity, reduce congestion at telecoms centres, and provide adequate support staff to ensure a seamless process.鈥�

The NATCOMS President also stressed that the present portal problems could prevent the NIN-SIM linkage exercise from being successfully completed before the deadline, The Punch report said.

According to him, if these issues are not resolved immediately, subscribers would not be able to fulfil the September 15 deadline in the telecoms ecosystem.

Complaining that the NIMC Web site has become congested when numerous users try to use it at once in recent times, he stated the platform could only run smoothly when fewer users are logged in.

Ogunbanjo said: 鈥淲hen you go to the NIMC office in Alausa, Lagos, you will experience the same congestion.

鈥淚t takes too much time and it鈥檚 only seamless when not many people are trying to access the website.

鈥淚 think the congestion happens because too many people wait until the last minute to try and access the Web site.鈥�

He, therefore, urged NIMC to address the Web site鈥檚 capacity issues to ensure a smooth NIN-SIM linkage process for all Nigerian telecoms consumers, preventing further frustrations as the deadline draws near.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, reportedly, has explained that the Commission’s centres are open and fully functional, with adequate capacity to enroll and issue NINs to Nigerians.

NCC restates basic objectives of NIN-SIM integration

It is recalled the Nigerian Communications Commission has explained the fundamental objectives of the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage in the country.

Muoka in the statement issued August 28, 2024, had noted: 鈥淎s we approach the final phase of this critical process, the NCC seeks the continued cooperation of all Nigerians to achieve 100 percent compliance.

鈥淭he complete linkage of all SIM cards to NINs is essential for enhancing the trust and security of our digital economy.鈥�

According to NCC, by verifying all mobile users in the West African country, the policy 鈥渟trengthens confidence in digital transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and cybercrime, and supports greater participation in e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile money services.鈥�

Besides, the NIN-SIM linkage promotes financial inclusion and drives economic growth.

The Commission as well announced significant progress in the Federal Government鈥檚 2020 policy to link all SIMs to NINs.

Muoka equally revealed till date, over 153 million SIMs had been successfully linked to a NIN, stating this reflects 鈥渁n impressive compliance rate of 96 percent, a substantial increase from 69.7 percent in January 2024.鈥�

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