Nigeria’s mobile subscribers drop by 30% as SIM-NIN linkage deadline takes effect

Nigeria’s mobile subscriber base experienced a sharp decline of 30.09% to 153.32 million by mid-September 2024, following the completion of the Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) and National Identification Number (NIN) linkage mandate. The telecommunications sector reported a significant loss of 65.98 million subscribers, with numbers dropping from 219.3 million in March 2024 to 153.32 million as of September 14, 2024.

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The decrease in subscriber count was mainly due to the deactivation of SIMs that were not linked to a verified NIN by the mandated deadline. The SIM-NIN linkage initiative, introduced to enhance security measures and curb criminal activities, mandates that all SIM users must have a verified NIN. This requirement also restricts SIM registration to individuals over the age of 18, reinforcing that SIM registration constitutes a legal contract valid only for adults.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that no SIM card in the country can operate without a verified NIN. By August 2024, 153 million active lines were linked to NINs, representing a high compliance rate of 96%.

The SIM-NIN linkage exercise, which commenced in 2020, had connected 125 million lines by April 2022. Since the start of the initiative, the NCC has set several deadlines, with the latest final deadlines announced in December 2023.

The exercise also led to the identification of cases where individuals possessed unusually large numbers of SIM cards—some exceeding 100,000. This discovery was made possible through the NCC’s collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The SIM-NIN linkage initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring better security measures in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, despite the substantial decrease in the subscriber base. The focus now shifts to maintaining compliance and exploring ways to manage the impact on the industry’s growth.