The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has cautioned Nigerians not to link their National Identification Numbers (NINs) to another person’s Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.
This was contained in a statement released on Monday by NCC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Adinde.
According to Adinde, the commission gave the warning during its third run Telecom Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR) programme, broadcast live on Human Rights Radio, 101.1 FM in Abuja recently.
NCC’s director of consumer affairs bureau, Efosa Idehen while speaking during the radio programme focused on ‘the Benefits of NIN-SIM Integration’ said telecom consumers should not allow another use their NINs to register on another person’s SIM.
Idehen said compliance would protect the owner of the NIN from any liabilities or negative consequences arising from the use of another person’s SIM.
“If the person, whose SIM is linked to your line use his own SIM to commit crimes or any form of atrocities, it is easy to be traced to you, and then, you will be dealt with because the SIM is linked to your NIN,” he said.
The statement added that during the phone-in segment of the radio programme, consumers within Nigeria and in the diaspora, especially from the United Kingdom (UK), Russia and neighbouring countries like Ghana, among others, called and received clarifications on the ongoing NIN-SIM integration in Nigeria.
“Discussions largely focused on educating consumers on NIN and its purpose, process of obtaining NIN, why consumers are being asked to submit their NIN to their Mobile Network Service Providers, the benefits of NIN-SIM linkage, the relationship between NIN and Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, the step-by-step approach to linking NIN to SIM, and the role and uses of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) *346# in the NIN-SIM integration activities,” the statement reads.
The statement added that Efosa was joined in the studio by NCC’s director, public affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, represented by Omoniyi Ibietan, assistant Director in the department and Nnenna Ukoha, deputy director, projects department of NCC.
Others include Mistura Aruna, NCC’s head, consumer information and education, Kayode Adegoke, head, corporate communication, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as well as representatives of mobile operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile.
The NCC said the deadline for NIN-SIM integration is still October 31, 2021.