By Abbas Badmus,

Nigeria’s policy mandating the linkage of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards with the National Identification Number (NIN) was introduced as a critical security measure aimed at strengthening citizen identification, curbing criminal activities, and enhancing national data management. Spearheaded by agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the initiative was expected to close anonymity gaps in telecommunications and assist law enforcement in tracking criminals, particularly kidnappers and bandits who rely heavily on mobile communication.

However, recent developments suggest a widening gap between policy expectations and on-the-ground realities.

Despite multiple deadlines, enforcement measures, and widespread compliance by millions of Nigerians, the surge in kidnapping and banditry continues unabated. Criminal groups still appear able to make repeated ransom calls to victims’ families without detection or interception.

This raises a fundamental question: if every SIM is linked to a verified identity, why are perpetrators still operating with apparent impunity?

A recent incident underscores the urgency of this concern. In Benue State, on April 15, 2026, eight students traveling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), were reportedly abducted alongside ten other passengers. The victims were rescued by the Nigerian police five days later after kidnappers had demanded a ransom of ten million naira from their families. Such incidents, occurring despite existing digital identification frameworks, highlight a troubling disconnect between policy design and security outcomes.

Between 2024 and 2025, Nigeria recorded at least ten major school kidnapping incidents, affecting over 670 students.These figures point to a persistent pattern rather than isolated events. The attacks are often concentrated in northern regions, where armed groups exploit weak security presence and vulnerable rural school systems.

One of the most shocking incidents occurred in March 2024 in Kuriga, Kaduna State, where over 200 students were abducted in a single raid. Although the victims were eventually released, the incident reignited national outrage and exposed the fragile state of school security.

The situation escalated further in 2025, which can be described as one of the most intense years for school-related abductions in recent history. In November 2025, in Niger State, over 300 students and staff were kidnapped in a single attack—marking one of the largest mass abductions in the country. Within the same period, 25 schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi State, while other coordinated attacks pushed the number of victims into the hundreds within weeks.

The persistence of these crimes raises critical questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s surveillance and identification systems. The NIN-SIM linkage policy, introduced to enhance security by tying mobile phone usage to verified identities, was expected to help track criminals, especially during ransom negotiations conducted via phone calls.

Beyond the immediate trauma inflicted on victims and their families, the implications of school kidnappings are far-reaching.The repeated targeting of schools is discouraging education, particularly in already vulnerable regions. Parents are increasingly reluctant to send their children to school, worsening Nigeria’s already high number of out-of-school children.

Additionally, the frequency of attacks undermines public confidence in the government’s capacity to provide basic security. National data indicating over 4,700 kidnapping victims between 2024 and 2025 across all categories further highlights the scale of the crisis.

While security agencies often report the rescue of abducted victims and the arrest of suspects, these responses are largely reactive. There is limited evidence of sustained preventive strategies such as strengthened security infrastructure in schools, community-based intelligence systems, and technological tracking of ransom communications.

The recurring nature of these incidents suggests that current interventions may not be addressing the root causes, including poverty, weak governance in rural areas, and the proliferation of armed groups.

Experts point to several factors that may explain the limited impact of the NIN-SIM policy on curbing crime:

1. Weak Enforcement and Monitoring:

While SIM registration may be complete on paper, real-time monitoring and intelligence gathering appear insufficient. Security agencies may lack the tools, coordination, or capacity to act swiftly on telecom data.

2. Use of Illegally Registered SIMs:

Criminals may exploit pre-registered or fraudulently registered SIM cards, often obtained through compromised agents or identity theft, thereby bypassing the intended traceability.

3. Technological Limitations:

Linking SIMs to NINs is only one layer of a broader digital surveillance ecosystem. Without advanced analytics, call pattern recognition, and geolocation tracking capabilities, the system remains reactive rather than proactive.

4. Inter-Agency Coordination Challenges:

Effective use of telecom data requires seamless collaboration between telecom operators, regulators, and security agencies. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and data-sharing restrictions can delay or weaken response efforts.

The aggressive enforcement of the NIN-SIM linkage, often involving threats of SIM deactivation, was justified on the grounds of national security.

However, the continued rise in kidnappings risks eroding public confidence in the policy. Citizens who complied with the directive may now question its tangible benefits, especially as high-profile crimes continue without visible breakthroughs linked to telecom tracking.

For the NIN-SIM policy to achieve its intended objectives, analysts suggest a multi-pronged approach:

Strengthening digital forensics through investment in real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence, and surveillance tools to enhance the tracking and interception of criminal communications.

Auditing SIM registration processes to identify and eliminate loopholes that allow unverified or fraudulently registered lines.

Enhancing inter-agency collaboration by creating a centralized and secure platform for data sharing among relevant agencies.

Improving public transparency by providing updates on how telecom data has contributed to arrests or crime prevention, thereby rebuilding public trust.

The rising number of kidnappings in Nigeria is not just a security issue but a national emergency affecting education, development, and social stability. With thousands of Nigerians abducted in repeated large-scale attacks within a short period, the crisis demands urgent, coordinated, and proactive measures.

The NIN-SIM linkage policy remains a potentially powerful tool within Nigeria’s security architecture. However, its current implementation appears insufficient to address the complex and evolving nature of criminal networks. Without significant improvements in enforcement, technology, and coordination, the policy risks becoming a symbolic measure rather than a functional solution to Nigeria’s pressing security challenges.

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TECHDIGEST – Beginning today, April 4, 2022, the federal government has directed telecom operators (telcos) to bar all outgoing calls on unlinked phone lines.

Phone users who failed to meet the March 31 deadline to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) in their phones will experience a connectivity blackout as government pushes to have only identifiable people access the national network.

In a statement signed jointly by Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ike Adinde and Head of Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Kayode Adegoke, the governmrnt revealed that at the end of the NIN-SIM linkage deadline, “over 125 million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication. Similarly, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 Million unique NINs till date.”

According to the statement, “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the federal government has directed all telcos to strictly enforce the policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria.
“Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022.”
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW.
On behalf of the Federal Government, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has commended Nigerians and Legal Residents for their support during the exercise to link National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM). As of date, over 125 Million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication. Similarly, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 Million unique NINs till date.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, gave the directive for the implementation and commencement of the exercise in December 2020, as part of the administration’s security and social policies. The deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to freely comply with the Policy. The FG also took into consideration the passionate appeals by several bodies – Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies and a host of others – for the extension of the deadlines in the past.
Accordingly, Mr. President graciously approved the many requests to extend deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage. At this point however, Government has determined that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents. The implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria. Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022. Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines. Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.
Professor Pantami specially appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for his tremendous support. He also commends the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez Abubakar along with their Management and Staff, as well as other notable bodies whose efforts have seen to the monumental success of the exercise. The Minister also extends his thanks to the telecommunication operators for their support towards the success recorded.
The Honourable Minister also emphasized that enrolment for the NIN is a continuous exercise and NIN is a precondition for service in Telcos, banks, Nigerian Immigration Service, and for several other government services. He also encouraged Nigerians and legal residents to visit NIN registration centers for the enrollment and issuance of valid NINs.

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TECHDIGEST – In preparation for the enforcement of the compulsory linkage of Sim cards and National Identity Number, NIN across the country, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) had urged citizens and legal residents to use the next few days to ensure that they complete the linkage.

The directive followed the expiration of the earlier breadline issued by the Minister that ended 31st March 2022.

To this end, the Minister has further directed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) should offer enrolment services round-the-clock for the next few days.

In a joint statement signed by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and NIMC Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, on behalf of the Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, urged citizens and legal residents to take advantage of the window few days extension to complete the process of enrolment and verification within the next few days.

They, however, thanked all those who have completed their NIN-SIM linkage.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had severally approved an extension of the NIN-SIM linkage deadline in 2021 before the latest deadline that ended 31st of March, 2022.

With this directive, the implication is that any telecom subscriber who fails to link his Sim with his NIN will be blocked when the enforcement begins.

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TECHDIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval to some security agencies to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in the course of going about their duties.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, disclosed this in Saudi Arabia while speaking to Nigerian journalists on the sidelines of LEAP 22, a technology event.

However, Pantami did not list the names of the security agencies.

He said some of them are permitted to gain access based on the cybercrime law without the permission of the ministry because the database allows lawful interception.

According to the Minister, permitting the lawful intercept was aimed at supporting the security agencies.

“Mr. President has given approval for them to do it, without even our intervention. So, with that approval, the NCC has conveyed that through my office to all the relevant institutions that the President has granted approval.”

“So, with it, they can gain access into the database even without our permission, and they have never complained to me, even for once. The only person that wrote a letter to me is the Minister of Defence, asking that we should try to finish the NIN-SIM policy on time,” he added.

Pantami revealed that the NIMC has captured over 73 million residents so far.

“If you look at the circumstances, NIMC is doing very well. Before my coming, what NIMC captured was just about 40 million, but now over 73 million have been done. We have achieved over 30 million within one year, while 40 million was achieved from 2007 to 2020.”

“Secondly, about NIN-SIM registration, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the NIMC are not security institutions. We are a sector for economic development but we came up with the policy because the priority of the government is security and it is a constitutional obligation of any government.

“It is in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Section 14 Subsection 2, Article B, it is our responsibility,” the minister said.

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TECHDIGEST – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on telecoms consumers yet to link their National Identity Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to do so before the expiration of the deadline of October 31, 2021 set by the Federal Government.

The Commission gave the admonition during the NCC Digital Signature (NDS) radio programme, which hosted the 2nd episode of Telecoms Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR) live on a radio station in Lagos at the weekend to discuss benefits of NIN-SIM integration.

In the studio during the TCTHR programme were representatives of the NCC, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and officials of telecoms operators.

The live, phone-in programme provided opportunity for listeners to call and get clarifications on concerns and issues around NIN-SIM integration exercise.

Speaking during the live programme, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, advised Nigerians to make use of the extension of the NIN-SIM integration exercise to October 31, 2021, to enrol with NIMC, get their NIN and link it to their SIMs. “Soon, people without NIN will be denied of necessary services that play vital roles in their lives including acquisition of driver’s license, international passport,” he said.

On the benefits of the NIN-SIM integration, Adinde said the exercise will significantly enhance national security as NIN is the primary identity for Nigerians, stressing that in line with Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that Nigeria deploys technology to improve service delivery, the NIN-SIM database will enhance citizens’ access to government services.

In the same vein, the Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Efosa Idehen, noted that most Nigerians are still using SIMs without unique identification, as they were yet to link their NINs to their SIMs, pointing out that “those SIMs without unique identification could be used to commit crimes that remain untraceable.”

While explaining that security should be the responsibility of all citizens and not be left in the hands of government alone, Idehen urged telecoms consumers to take advantage of the October 31, 2021 deadline to enrol with NIMC, get their NIN and link same with their SIM to avoid denial of essential services in future.

Also speaking on the programme, Regional Director, NIMC in Lagos, Funmi Opesanwo, noted that submission of NIN to a mobile network provider helps in providing a means of verifying an individual’s identity and safeguarding both identity and mobile line.

She explained that NIN will become the first layer of verifying everything about a citizen, stating that other relevant database in other sectors of the economy are being integrated into the NIMC database for proper harmonisation .

“For instance, Bank Verification Number (BVN) is being harmonised with NIMC database. Therefore, BVN holders have automatically been allocated NIN and we advise BVN holders to dial *346# with the mobile number linked to BVN to confirm their integration. However, NINs generated via BVN must be verified and validated by NIMC through proper registration and biometrics capture at an enrollment center,” she said.

Representatives of telecoms companies including Globacom, MTN, Airtel and 9mobile, who attended the programme also answered series of questions from the consumers on the phone-in programme.

TCTHR is a consumer outreach programme of the NCC previously held in semi-urban areas but now modified to be radio-based, in order to reach every telecom consumer and as part of the Commission’s response to the efforts of the Federal Government to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The first episode of the programme, aimed at empowering consumers through information sharing, education and protection initiatives, held in Kano in August, 2021 on NCC Digital Signature.

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TECH DIGEST – Fourteen days from now, the June 30 extended deadline handed to Nigerians by the Federal Government for National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) cards’ registration and linkage would expire.

As such, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMs) has encouraged yet to be registered subscribers to do so within the space of time still available.

Already, feelers from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are not showing possible extension, after the exercise had been extended for about four times.

It is even more serious as a new policy on SIM cards has revealed that the Federal Government will order the deactivation of all unverified subscribers off the networks.

The document, titled: “Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration,” packaged by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, a part of it informed that there will be identification and deactivation of registered SIM cards with no NIN on the SIM database. The policy was recently unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

The 45-page document has given a fillip to the readiness of the Federal Government to yank-off any registered SIM but with no NIN off the network.

Speaking with The Guardian, the President of NATCOMs, Chief Deolu Ogunbajo, urged Nigerians to use the remaining days to complete the exercise.

Ogunbajo, while appreciating the FG for the extensions, however, reminded the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy that the exercise should be made open and continuous, particularly for new SIMs.

According to him, by June 30, there should be an audit and review of the exercise since the commencement in December 2020. This, he said, would give proper assessment of exercise, “there will be opportunity to know where the challenges still lie.”

The NATCOMs boss stressed that part of the review should be that a subscriber did not have more than four SIMs per person.

On the challenges faced by students that require NIN for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration, Ogunbanjo appealed to JAMB and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to further make the process simpler for them.

Speaking on the issue raised by some members of the National Assembly, especially the Upper Legislative Chamber, as regards not making NIN compulsory for some activities in the country, including JAMB, where it was canvassed that the FG should review the implementation of the policy, a telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, reminded the lawmakers that the NIMC is a body created by an Act of Parliament, that is “The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act No. 23 of 2007.”

He informed that the power to enact the law by the National Assembly was derived from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him, the law said, “therefore every citizen of Nigeria must observe and respect requirements of all laws in Nigeria created by the National Assembly or those International laws that have been domesticated by Nigeria and other Regulations, Guidelines and Government Policies.

“This means that the NIMC Act is a validly recognised Nigerian law, binding on every person conducting business relating to the functions of NIMC or persons subjected to the jurisdiction of the NIMC (the employee, contractors, consultants, service providers, vendors, licensees, agents, Nigerian Citizens & all other people of other nationalities residing in Nigeria).”

Meanwhile, about 56 million Nigerians, as at May, now have NIN, according to NIMC. This can translate to over 190 million mobile numbers, since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to three to four phone lines.

Findings by The Guardian showed that within the last five months of the exercise, about 16 million telephone lines have been lost, resulting in revenue losses to the telecoms operators and drop in taxes accruable to the FG.

In the new Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card registration document, the NIMC was conferred with the power to ensure adherence to data protection policies, data backup and restoration plans, among others in the country.

The new document informed that the objectives of the data management process would include specifying data access requirements and protocols that will ensure secure access to the digital identity data; to develop fast and reliable access processes for the registration and verification exercise; to provide subscribers access to their own data, and provide an avenue for making corrections and updates where necessary.

Others are to create guidelines for data acquisition, processing and storage in line with Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and other relevant regulatory instruments, and to protect the national digital identity data from fraudulent and exploitative usage by any entity involved in the capturing and storage of such data, and to develop and promote the use of digital identity data for digital services across all sectors of the digital economy.

The document noted that digital identity data comprising both national identity data from NIMC and NCC SIM card registration constitute a very important asset with great relevance to the digital economy.

It stressed that the digital identity data has potential for fast growth, with its sensitivity as it holds privacy information, a robust and secure data management and protection policy must be ensured. Particularly, a strong data loss prevention and recovery plan must be instituted so that in the event of data loss, data can be recovered and restored with minimal downtime and disruption to digital services.

According to it, data management is important during the registration process as it will prevent conflicts over data quality that can arise in subscribers’ effort to revalidate their registration details.

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TECH DIGEST – The policy that has made it mandatory for phone subscribers to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their subscriber identification module (SIM) has helped to curtail alarming cases of crimes particularly banditry and kidnapping, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has disclosed.

Pantami, while addressing the media at a briefing organised by the All Progressive Congress Professional Forum, in Abuja this week, said the NIN/SIM linkage policy enforced since December 2020 has eliminated unchecked and an almost unlimited capacity of criminal elements to perpetrate their activities.

According to the minister, “when I was assigned to supervise the sector on 24, August 2019, unregistered, and partial registered SIMs were being used to perpetrate crime in the country. Nobody knew the total number of unregistered SIMs.

He sad within only 15 days in office, he directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to carry audit exercise to enable them come up with unregistered and partial registered SIMs.

“They [NCC] came with around 9.4 million which is enough to populate another country. It was the first time. We didn’t know the total of unregistered SIMs in the country.

“By September 2021, no unregistered SIM will be on our network”
“We went further to direct NCC to ensure that by 25th September 2019, that is only one month few days in office, to ensure that by end of September 2021, no SIM that is not registered will be on our network. NCC as a regulator implemented that effectively.”

While supporting the claims of the minister, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, added that the policy has eliminated the criminal practice by some telecommunication agents to offload illegally pre-registered SIMs onto the networks.

“That has been eliminated” said the telecoms regulator even as he explained that bandits and kidnappers now resort to use the SIMs of their victims to demand ransom.

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