Nigerian Phone Lines at Risk of Forfeiture Due to Lack of NIN LinkingNigerian Phone Lines at Risk of Forfeiture Due to Lack of NIN Linking The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that over 40 million telephone lines risk being forfeited if they are not linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) within the next 180 days. Affected Telephone Lines: The affected telephone lines are those that have been blocked for failing to meet the NCC’s deadline of February 28, 2024, which requires telecom customers to link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to their NIN. Consequences of Not Linking NIN: If these blocked lines are not linked within the stipulated time, they will: * Initially lose the ability to make calls, but still receive SMS and calls. * After an additional 180 days, they will lose all functionality and may be forfeited by their service providers. Retrieval Process: To retrieve blocked phone lines, the NCC recommends the following steps: 1. Subscribers who have not applied for a NIN can register at authorized centers. 2. Link the NIN to the SIM through service provider channels. 3. Subscribers with a registered NIN can visit service provider centers or use their designated channels. 4. Forgotten NIN can be retrieved by dialing *346# and selecting “NIN Retrieval”. 5. A charge of N20 applies for NIN retrieval via this method. Service Provider USSD Codes for NIN Linking: * MTN: *785# * Glo: UPDATINGIN NIN First Name and Last Name to 109 * Airtel: *121*1# * 9Mobile: *200*8# Importance of NIN Linking: The NCC stresses the importance of NIN linking for security and identity verification purposes. It urges all affected subscribers to take immediate action to avoid losing their phone lines.
The Nigerian Communications Commission has said that over 40 million telephone lines that have been blocked because they are not linked to national identification numbers are at risk of being forfeited soon.
NCC Director of Public Affairs Reuben Mouka made this known in an interview with PUNCH Online on Tuesday.
According to him, the telephone lines blocked by their telecom operators have exceeded the deadline of February 28, 2024, set by the Commission, which stipulates that telecom customers must link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to their NIN.
He said, “If the blocked lines are not addressed within the next 180 days, they will no longer be able to receive calls, only SMS and calls. But after the stipulated days, they will also not be allowed to make calls and they may lose their lines with their respective service provider within 365 days.”
To make your phone lines accessible again, PUNCH Online explains the retrieval processes, as explained by the NCC’s Publicity Director to our correspondent.
1. Subscribers who have not yet applied for a NIN can register their SIM at authorized centers across the country.
2. Then link the NIN to your SIM through the channels offered by your service provider.
3. Subscribers with a registered NIN number can simply visit their service provider’s center and present the NIN number or link their SIM card through the channels provided by their service providers.
4. If you have your NIN number but have forgotten it, you can easily retrieve it through your mobile phone by dialing *346# to get the number.
5. From the options displayed, select ‘NIN Retrieval’ by typing ‘1’ if you are using the same phone number you registered with for your NIN.
6. Follow the steps displayed on the screen and provide the required input.
7. Please note that using this service will only incur a charge of N20 (this amount will be deducted from your calling credit).
8. However, the four mobile network operators in the country have designated certain USSD codes for seamless and fast pairing of your NIN and your SIM cards. These are as follows:
a. For MTN customers
Dial *785# with the phone number you want to link, enter your NIN and send or dial *785*Your NIN# from the phone number you want to link. The number will automatically be linked to your NIN.
b. For Glo customers
Simply send “UPDATINGIN NIN First Name and Last Name” to 109.
c. For Airtel customers
Dial *121*1# now to connect.
d. For 9Mobile customers
Dial *200*8# and follow the instructions on your phone screen.
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