Uncertainty on NIN deadline as telecoms operators raise alarm on outdated NIMC facilities

- The NIN-SIM linkage is being hindered by outdated NIMC facilities

- Findings showed that telecoms operators are having problems integrating SIM into NIMC backend

- The deadline for the full linkage of SIM with NIN still remains Tuesday, February 9, according to the FG

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With the February 9 deadline for the full linkage of the National Identity Number (NIN) with SIM cards drawing nearer, telecom operators said they are having challenges integrating the number of their subscribers with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) backend.

The federal government had in a directive in December 2020 announced that SIM not linked with NIN will be disconnected on Tuesday, February 9.

Although Nigerians, in total compliance, have been enrolling and forwarding numbers to their respective telecoms service, service providers said they have not been receiving messages from NIMC due to outdated backend integration, The Guardian reports.

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This, Legit.ng gathers, is the reason subscribers who have sent their NIN to telecoms operators have not been receiving the message of confirmation.

A technical official of one of the telecom operators said the process has been challenging because of the "ancient backend support" at the commission.

“We are having challenges with the backend integration with the NIMC database because of the ancient backend support at the Commission.

"Some subscribers have sent their NINs to their network providers, and you will be told that it has been acknowledged, but it will not go through finally until we are able to check at the backend of NIMC to confirm the authenticity of the subscriber’s identity because we don’t have any way of knowing, except NIMC confirms."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the federal government lifted the suspension on replacement and activation of old SIM cards.

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It was reported that the directive was given on Thursday, December 31, in a statement by the director of public affairs of the National Communication Commission (NCC) Ikechukwu Adinde.

Speaking on the development, Adinde disclosed that the action became necessary in line with the federal government’s desire to consolidate the achievement of the SIM card registration.

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Source: Legit.ng