The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned Nigerians not to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards of another person.
The warning was issued by Efosa Idehen, NCC’s Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, during a programme on Human Rights Radio, 101.1 FM, Abuja, according to a statement by Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, on Monday.
Idehen explained that allowing another person to link their SIM cards to an individual’s NIN means that the owner of the NIN would be responsible for any liabilities traced to such NIN regardless of the owner of the telephone line.
“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,” Idehen 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 read.
The commission reiterated that the deadline for the linkage of SIM cards to NIN is 31 October.
