After NIN-SIM Linkage Completion, Subscriber Number Dropped to 153m in September
Emma Okonji
Following the completion of NIN-SIM linkage in September this year, subscriber number has dropped from 219,304,281 in March 2024 to 153,323,316 as at September 2024.
THISDAY gathered that the drop in subscriber number which is put at 31 per cent, was as a result of the barring of 40 million SIM cards in March and September 2024, that were not linked to National Identification Number (NIN). September 14 this year, was the final deadline given by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for NIN-SIM linkage.
According to THISDAY investigation, a particular mobile network operator incorrectly reported as much as 40 million active subscribers on its network, a development that negates and violates NCC’ guidelines for determining active telecoms subscribers.
After the NCC identified and corrected the 40 million subscribers that were erroneously added to a particular network, coupled with the barring of 40 million SIM cards that were not linked to the NIN of the SIM cards holder, telecoms subscribers’ number dropped by about 31 per cent.
The current subscriber base, even though it dropped, is a reflection that NCC is particular about transparency and accountability in regulating the telecoms industry.
NCC is expected to publish the current telecoms subscriber indices on its website this week.
After the successful NIN-SIM linkage in September, Nigeria had a subscriber base that was slightly above 153 million active subscribers across networks, given the 40 million SIM cards were barred from receiving and generating calls, as at September 14.
NCC has however advised subscribers whose lines were barred to visit their network providers to link their SIM cards to their NI N, for reactivation of their barred lines.
An NCC source, however told THISDAY that some subscribers’ SIM cards have been reactivated after they visited their service providers to properly link their SIMs to their NIN, and that the number of barred SIMs have dropped from 40 million to 24.8 million as at October 2024.
