NIN Linkage To SIM Cards Is For The Common Good Of Nigerians – NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has come out to clear the air on speculations of impending mass disconnection of telephone subscribers.

NCC Director, Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde recently made the clarification in a statement in Abuja.

According to him, it is very important to emphasize that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIMs is for the common good of all Nigerians, as it has far-reaching benefits.

He added that apart from improving our general safety, NIN linkage will help in such vital exercises like national budgeting, policy planning, social intervention programmes and so on.

His words, “Most of these publications are based on the erroneous assumption that for every network or SIM connection, there is one unique human subscriber.

“However, with the advent of social media and App-driven digital environment, network subscription went beyond human subscribers to include machines like PoS, Routers, WiFi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, tracking devices etc.”

“This explains the basis of allowing the linkage of up to seven SIMs to one unique NIN in the recently launched Federal Government Portal.

“Thus, if there are 43 million Nigerians with NINs, this could account for about 172 million SIMs already linked to NINs.

“It is very important to emphasise that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIMs is for the common good of all Nigerians, as it has far reaching benefits.

“Apart from enhancing our general safety, this will help in such vital exercises like national budgeting, policy planning, social intervention programmes and many more.”