The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to consider the security that linking their SIM cards to their National Identification Number (NIN) will provide while doing online transactions rather than the inconveniences of having their outgoing calls blocked.
The commission, which stated that it was blocking unlinked SIMs to protect Nigerians’ electronic transactions, including financial and business services, as well as to combat crime and criminality in the country, advised citizens to choose such benefits over any inconveniences.
The NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholders Management, Barrister Adeleke Adewolu, said this at the Village Square Dialogue held at the Centenary Hall in Ake, Abeokuta, the state capital of Ogun.
He stated that the meeting with customers in Abeokuta was held to demonstrate the ancient city’s pride of place as a historical hub of trade and commerce – not only in South-West Nigeria, but throughout the country.
Adewolu, who claimed that the NCC would have completely barred consumers who refused to link their SIMs to their NIN from receiving calls, using data to operate their social media platforms, or engaging in any online activities, added that the commission did not do so in order to give them the opportunity to submit their NIN to their mobile service operators on time.
