Telecom companies in Nigeria have begun cutting off 66 million phone lines that have not been linked to the National Identification Number (NIN). This is part of a government effort to enforce the NIN-SIM linkage policy, aimed at improving national security and making it easier to identify phone users.

As of March 2024, out of 219 million active mobile numbers in Nigeria, 153 million were already connected to NINs. This leaves around 66 million lines at risk of being disconnected. Telecom companies such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile are now following through with the disconnection process, advising their subscribers to link their SIMs to NINs to avoid losing service.

The NIN-SIM linkage policy, which was introduced in 2020, is a government strategy to reduce criminal activities such as fraud, kidnapping, and terrorism. These crimes are often committed using unregistered or improperly registered SIM cards. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline several times since December 2023, but now expects all SIM cards to be linked by September 15, 2024.

Telecom providers are reminding customers that even if their lines are disconnected, they can still reconnect by visiting telecom centers or NIMC offices to complete the verification process. Although the policy has faced criticism for causing disruptions and technical issues during registration, the government remains committed to enforcing it as part of its plan to enhance national security.