The Nigerian Communications Commission has said that the over 40 million telephone lines barred after failing to link to the National Identity Numbers face the risk of being forfeited soon.

The NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking in an interview.

According to him, the telephone lines barred by their telecommunication operators have breached the February 28, 2024 deadline issued by the commission mandating telecom customers to link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to their NIN.

He said, “If the barred lines are not acted upon in the next 180 days. They won’t be able to receive calls but will only be able to text and make calls. But after the stipulated days, they would be barred from making calls too and theybmight forfeit their lines to their respective service provider within 365 days.”

However to unbar your phone lines, below is the processes of the retrieval as explained by the NCC’s Director of Publicity to our correspondent.

1. For subscribers that have not registered for their NIN, get your SIM registered at accredited centres across the country.

2. Then link the NIN with your SIM through channels provided by your service provider.

3. For subscribers with registered NINs, simply visit your service provider centre and present the NIN or link your SIM through channels provided by your service providers.

4. But if you have NIN but it was forgotten, retrieve your NIN conveniently using your mobile phone by dialling *346# to get the number.

5. From the options displayed, select “NIN Retrieval”, by typing in ‘1’, if you are using the same phone number you enrolled with for your NIN.

6. Follow the steps displayed on your screen and provide the required inputs.

7. Note that using this service attracts a N20 fee only (deducted from your phone airtime balance).

8. However, the four Mobile Network Operators in the country have designated certain USSD codes for seamless and quick linkage of your NIN and your SIM cards. They are as follows:

a. For MTN Customers

Dial *785# using the phone number you wish to link, enter your NIN and submit or dial *785*Your NIN# from the phone number you wish to link. The number will be linked to your NIN automatically.

b. For Glo Customers

Simply send “UPDATENIN NIN FirstName and LastName” to 109.

c. For Airtel Customers

Just dial *121*1# now to link.

d. For 9Mobile Customers

Dial *200*8# and follow the prompts on your phone screen. (The PUNCH)

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