Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, reaffirmed the directive for telecom operators to disconnect phone subscribers without National Identification Numbers (NIN). Speaking at the 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair, Maida, represented by Reuben Mouka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, emphasized the imperative of linking NIN to SIM cards for national security reasons.
“To this end, the commission has directed all telecommunication operators to bar phone lines of subscribers whose lines are not linked to their NINs” Maida said.
Expanding on his remarks, Maida emphasized the role of the commission as the regulatory authority overseeing the telecommunications sector within the country. He stressed that the commission’s primary objective is to guarantee the availability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of services for all consumer demographics. These consumers utilize information and communication technology (ICT)/Telecoms to facilitate both personal and business endeavors.
The executive vice-chairman highlighted the NCC’s dedication to fostering economic growth by fostering the development of local content and addressing consumer-related challenges. He reiterated the commission’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights while simultaneously ensuring their overall satisfaction.
“We therefore encourage businesses and service providers to prioritize customer satisfaction and uphold the highest standards of service delivery With our keen interest and commitment to consumer protection, the NCC has implemented measures to safeguard the interest of consumers and businesses alike,” he said.
“We have established a robust regulatory framework that promotes transparency, quality of service, and fair competition. Additionally, we have set up channels for consumer redress, ensuring that consumers can resolve disputes in a timely and efficient manner.
“The (NCC) had on May 17, 2023, directed all licensed mobile network operators (MNO) to commence implementation of approved Harmonised Short Codes (HSC) for providing services to Nigerian telecom consumers The measure initiated by the Commission is a bid to improve the Quality of Experience (QoE) of consumers across all mobile networks.
“The new initiative is enabling consumers using the over 224 million active mobile telephone lines in Nigeria to use the same codes to access services across all networks. For instance, the same code *310# will be used for checking airtime balance across all the networks.
“Campaign on National Identification Number-Subscriber Identification Module (NIN-SIM) linkage – NIN-SIM Linkage is a process of connecting your NIN to your phone number to authenticate and protect your identity. To link your NIN to your SIM, a subscriber needs to submit his/her NIN to their respective Service Provider to complete the process of NIN-SIM linkage.
