Over 40 million traces have been disconnected because the expiration of the February 28 deadline set by the Nigerian Communications Fee for the linkage of NINs to SIMs. Nonetheless, lengthy queues on the enrolment centres, telco brokers not gathering all the data wanted from subcribers and server downtime have been the hurdles Nigerians are grappling with throughout the train, JUSTICE OKAMGBA experiences
In December 2020, the Nigerian authorities launched the Subscriber Identification Module-Nationwide Identification Numbers linkage coverage, mandating all phone customers in Nigeria to hyperlink their SIM playing cards with their NINs.
Two key Federal Authorities companies are spearheading the method: the Nigerian Communications Fee, the telecom trade regulator, and the Nationwide Identification Administration Fee, the id administration company.
Three years later, the NCC directed all telecommunications operators in Nigeria to implement full community barring on all cellphone traces for which subscribers had not submitted their NINs by February 28, 2024.
The disconnection course of was rolled out in phases. After the February 28 deadline, the telcos barred about 40 million phone traces.
The second part of disconnection occurred after the March twenty ninth deadline, and the ultimate part is scheduled for July thirty first, 2024
NIMC’s enrollment figures as of December 31, 2023, stood at over 104.16 million. A breakdown of the determine confirmed that 59.12 million male and 45.04 million feminine Nigerians have NINs.
About 530,345 Nigerians within the Diaspora have gotten NINs.
Amid the push for SIMs-NIN linkage, Nigerians have been battling with lengthy queues, overwhelmed telecom brokers, and technical glitches plaguing the method.
Knowledgeable welder, Ezinwa Odikemere, advised The PUNCH that the issue was not learn how to hyperlink SIM to NIN, however getting the NIN itself was tiring.
In line with Odikemere, NIN entrance desk officers at all times mentioned the community was down.
“The one purpose I’ve my NIN at present is as a result of I wanted to do the needful once I obtained to the enrolment centre. Earlier than I lastly obtained it accomplished, I used to be there thrice. Every time I obtained there, I discovered an enormous crowd. Due to my work, I couldn’t simply await it.
“The final time I went there, I wanted to speak in confidence to one of many entrance desk officers, who requested just a few thousand naira to get it accomplished. I wanted to try this. So, what about those that shouldn’t have the monetary muscle to do it?” he defined.
Just lately, our correspondent noticed a big crowd within the Mushin Native Authorities Space of Lagos. The enrolment centre in Mushin had just one pc and two feminine entrance desk officers in a small workplace.
The PUNCH gathered that the method of NIN enrolment was sluggish. On the time of the go to, there have been no reported problems with community downtime based mostly on conversations with the officers.
It was additionally gathered that telecom brokers who function from underneath the umbrella or a sales space usually fail to seize all the data wanted for verification and add information to the Nationwide Identification Administration Fee server.
In lots of instances, the operator’s client centre stands as the first location for shoppers to finish their registration absolutely, with the info supplied there being verifiable.
The President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, advised The PUNCH final week that telecom brokers have been bypassing essential data throughout the registration course of, leading to incomplete registrations for subscribers.
“For instance, throughout interactions with telecom representatives, some brokers fail to gather all required data from subscribers. If a subscriber can not present sure particulars, brokers usually depart the registration incomplete. Consequently, these incomplete registrations are deemed unverifiable,” he mentioned.
Additional, Ogunbanjo famous that NIMC additionally shared duty for that course of.
He mentioned the challenges come up when telecom firms are unable to add collected information as a result of community points.
He mentioned these community difficulties, past the management of subscribers, hinder the well timed completion of the registration course of.
“NIMC’s insufficient community infrastructure exacerbates the issue. Whereas they intend to just accept information uploads, technical points stop them from doing so successfully.
“We urge the NCC to handle NIMC’s shortcomings, enhance their companies, and acknowledge that assembly the deadline can be difficult given the present points,” the president added.
An X (previously Twitter) person recognized as Henry said, “Due to the distinction in biodata, my MTN line couldn’t be linked, and that was the rationale I obtained my line barred. I don’t perceive why your agent right here would use a cellphone quantity and handle from a distinct nation for what’s extra like a social safety quantity for Nigerian residents.”
After the February 28 disconnection, the Socio-Financial Rights and Accountability Mission issued a warning to take authorized motion in opposition to the NCC if it doesn’t revoke the directive instructing community suppliers to dam the cellphone traces of people who haven’t linked their SIM playing cards to their NINs.
SERAP mentioned the NCC had did not conduct an impression evaluation of these excessive measures to keep away from their arbitrary or extreme results.
In line with SERAP, these excessive measures go in opposition to the regulatory aims of the Nigerian Communications Act and violate Nigerians’ elementary human rights.
The SIM-NIN linkage initiative is a vital step in the direction of bettering the integrity of subscriber information and enhancing safety measures inside the telecommunications trade.
One other person, Glory Agu, mentioned, “I’ve been receiving a message from you asking me to hyperlink my NIN, however every time I attempt to do it, you don’t hyperlink my NIN. I’ve tried it so many instances, but you don’t make it work.”
A subscriber whose line was disconnected, Usoma Owane, advised The PUNCH that he was not conscious of the deadline till he began asking questions when his cellphone line was barred.
“I wasn’t being attentive to the noise due to my state of affairs. However one could be asking what they’ve achieved with the linked ones due to insecurity. Why can’t they collect intelligence on terrorism and banditry? Do they not utilise SIM playing cards and cellular networks? Insurance policies with out correct follow-up are a waste of money and time and fully ineffective,” Owane said.
Early within the yr, the previous Minister of Communications and Digital Financial system, Isa Pantami, expressed disappointment over safety companies’ failure to make use of the NIN-SIM to fight crime, particularly kidnappings and phone-related offences.
He wrote on his official X account, “NIN-SIM coverage has been working. Nonetheless, the related establishments preventing criminality are to be requested to make sure they utilise it successfully when against the law is dedicated.
“Lack of utilising it’s the most important downside, not the coverage.”
He championed the NIN registration coverage underneath Buhari’s administration.
He vowed that linking residents’ NINs to their SIMs could be a vital device in combating banditry, kidnapping, and phone-related crimes.
Earlier, an government of the Nigerian Bar Affiliation, who most popular to be nameless, mentioned the choice by the NCC was harsh, contemplating the variety of points hampering the method.
The lawyer emphasised the necessity to alleviate the inconvenience confronted by Nigerians, resembling lengthy queues at registration centres, which deterred many from finishing the method.
In line with the lawyer, the SIM-NIN linkage may have been extra handy and efficient, and the deadlines had a restricted timeframe.
“When folks go to totally different centres to do the linkage, they see the lengthy queues and resolve to return to their homes. The subsequent day, they’re there once more, and it’s nonetheless the identical challenge. Why gained’t they get drained?”
He expressed issues that the initiative, aimed toward enhancing safety by the linkage of cellphone numbers to people’ nationwide identities, had but to exhibit its efficacy in combating rising instances of scams and insecurity.
The supply said, “Day by day, Nigerians are being scammed of their hard-earned cash, and these folks can’t hint them and even know their location. So, what’s the profit? For individuals who have accomplished it, they only did it for compliance.
“My home assist got here from the North, and her line is barred as a result of she didn’t hyperlink it to NIN. That is somebody who got here from the North. So, there’s a risk that people who find themselves presupposed to get the message aren’t getting it.
The Nigerian Affiliation of Small and Medium Enterprises South-West Area Vice President, Solomon Aderoju, advised The PUNCH that disconnecting traces might have an effect on companies that rely on connectivity.
“For people like me, who conduct on-line coaching, a malfunctioning WiFi connection, means being unable to attach with individuals. So, having a dependable WiFi connection is essential.
“On-line conferences provide value financial savings. As an illustration, within the subsequent half-hour, I’ve one other on-line assembly scheduled, and and not using a secure web connection, it merely gained’t be possible,” he said.
He suggested the NCC and telcos to allocate extra time to allow Nigerians to hyperlink their SIMs to the NIN.
“We wish to rush right here, particularly on the eleventh hour, though the intentions could also be good. There needs to be extra time allotted to it, if not many individuals can be disconnected,” Aderoju mentioned.
When The PUNCH reached out to NIMC for feedback on technical glitches, the Head of Company Communications, Kayode Adegoke, clarified that the fee’s server had constantly remained operational, debunking experiences suggesting in any other case.
He emphasised that the NIMC’s companies have been absolutely useful and accessible to all customers.
“Our server has by no means been down. You’ll be able to go to the varied NIN centres and ensure,” he claimed.
Adegoke additional defined the method for subscribers to hyperlink their NIN to their SIM playing cards.
“These people solely must submit their NIN and full the verification course of by their respective telecom suppliers.
On March 17, the NIMC and the NCC issued a joint assertion unveiling a strategic partnership aimed toward simplifying the NIN-SIM linkage procedures for telecommunications subscribers nationwide.
Each companies reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the processes and bettering effectivity relating to the NIN and SIM card linkage initiative.
They acknowledge the significance of the initiative in bolstering safety measures and enhancing service supply throughout the nation.
“NIMC will proceed to increase its assist to NCC by offering help in verifying Nationwide Identification Numbers related to SIM registrations. Leveraging NIMC’s strong database and authentication infrastructure, telecommunication operators will validate submitted NINs whereas guaranteeing the accuracy and integrity of subscriber information.
“NIMC and NCC will collaborate on aligning insurance policies and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the seamless integration of NIN-SIM linkage processes inside the telecommunications ecosystem. This contains harmonising information safety and privateness rules to safeguard the confidentiality and safety of subscriber data,” they said.
