The National Communications Authority NatCA has issued a Public Notice mandating all Mobile Network Operators (MNOS) to link all subscriber phone numbers to their respective National Identification numbers [NIN).According to the Press Release, the objective of this exercise is to improve and enhance national security for effective service delivery, mitigate identity fraud and other online crimes. Furthermore, clean the country’s SIM ownership database and ensure that criminals do not take advantage of having multiple unlinked SIMs to carry out their nefarious activities.

This exercise is a joint effort with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) Telecom consumers are encouraged to reach out to their operators to ensure that their NIN has been appropriately linked to their SIM(s).
NatCA further reveals that that there is a limited window for this exercise to be completed, after which progressive barring of subscribers from making calls will set in, leading to a total removal of the number from the MNO database for subscribers who fail to follow through The harmonization of NIN-SIM.

NatCA assured that they will continue to provide requisite regulatory interventions to safeguard citizens from the antics of criminals.