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Tag: NIN-SIM Linkage

  • NIN-SIM Linkage: SERAP Sues Buhari Over 72 Million Blocked Phone Numbers

    NIN-SIM Linkage: SERAP Sues Buhari Over 72 Million Blocked Phone Numbers

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari over his failure to order the unblocking of millions of telecommunication subscribers barred from making calls on their SIMs.

    This is coming two weeks after the group issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to unblock millions of unregistered lines, following a recent directive for telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines, as the deadline for the verification expired on March 31.

    In the suit number FHC/L/CS/711/2022 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP sought an order to set aside the directive by Buhari to telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines without due process of law.

    SERPA joined the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his Communications and Digital Economy counterpart, Isa Pantami as respondents in the suit.

    “While Nigerian authorities have a legal responsibility to protect, ensure and secure the rights to life and property, any such responsibility ought to be discharged in conformity with human rights standards,” the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part.

    “Fundamental rights are regarded as part of human rights and are protected to enhance human dignity and liberty.

    “Unblocking the phone lines unlawfully barred from making calls would improve respect for the rule of law, and ensure people’s right to freedom of expression, and access to information, as well as their right to associate with others.

    “The blocking of people from making calls constitutes impermissible restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, information, and association.

    “The rights to freedom of opinion and expression and access to information are protected under section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    “These rights must be protected online as they are protected offline. Any restriction on these rights must be provided by law, be necessary for a democratic society and serve a legitimate aim.

    “The blocking of people from making calls on their SIMs also amounts to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their right to family life, and socio-economic rights, as it unnecessarily or disproportionately interferes with these fundamental human rights.

    “The decision to block the phone lines also appears to be arbitrary and lacks any legal framework, independent and judicial oversight. This may allow authorities to act in an unfettered and potentially arbitrary or unlawful manner.

    “Under international human rights law, States including Nigeria ‘shall not engage in or condone any disruption of access to digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.’ States must refrain from cutting off access to telecommunications services.

    “Millions of Nigerians including persons with disabilities, elderly citizens, persons living in remote areas have been unable to capture their biometrics, and obtain their NINs due to logistical challenges, administrative and bureaucratic burdens, as well as the persistent collapse of the national grid.

    “The rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and freedom of association, whether offline or online, promote the democratic ideal by allowing citizens to voice their concerns, challenge governmental institutions, and hold the government accountable for its actions.”

  • NIN-SIM Linkage: 72m Telephone Lines Partially Deactivated

    NIN-SIM Linkage: 72m Telephone Lines Partially Deactivated

    As part of measures to improve security in the country, all telephone lines which Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) not linked to National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been partially deactivated.

    The deactivation order took effect yesterday following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

    To effect the order, all outgoing calls by defaulting subscribers have been barred.

    About 72.7million lines may be affected by the directive.

    A joint statement by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Director of Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Director of Corporate Communications Mr Kayode Adegoke, announced the decision yesterday.

    However, there is an open window for defaulters to do so at designated NIMC centres nationwide.

    Data made available by NCC in February showed that there are 303,636,267 connected GSM mobile lines in the country out of which 197,768,482 were active.

    The statement explained that of 125 million SIMs submitted for immediate linkage with NIN, 78 million had so far been issued unique NINs. Unique NIN is simply the attachment of subscribers’ names to their SIMs.

    In the past two years, the govt has shifted the period of the enforcement of the policy to ensure that subscribers were captured in the database of NIMC.

    The statement reads: “On behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has commended Nigerians and legal residents for their support during the exercise to link the 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.

  • NIN-SIM Linkage: SERAP Sues Buhari Over Privacy Breach

    NIN-SIM Linkage: SERAP Sues Buhari Over Privacy Breach

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari over “the failure to review and rescind his reported approval for security agencies to access people’s personal details via NIN-SIM linkage without due process of law”.

    It asked the court for an order to set aside the approval, saying it amounts to violations of the citizen’s rights. SERAP also requested for “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government or any other authority, persons or group of persons from unlawfully accessing people’s personal details via NIN-SIM linkage without due process of the law”.

    In a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Sunday, the agency accused the president of giving approval to the security agencies without due process.

    “If President Buhari’s approval is not rescinded, millions of law-abiding Nigerians may feel that their private lives are the subject of constant surveillance,” the suit, filed by Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part.

    SERAP maintained that “interference with an individual’s right to privacy is not permissible if it is unlawful or arbitrary”.

    According to the suit with number FHC/L/CS/448/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP asked the court to determine “whether the approval for security agencies to access people’s personal details via the National Identification Number [NIN] without due process is consistent with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality”.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his Communications and Digital Economy counterpart, Isa Pantami, are joined in the suit as Respondents.

    “The power to access individual’s details raises serious concerns as to their arbitrary use by the authorities responsible for applying them in a manner that reduces human rights by the monitoring and surveillance of millions of Nigerians,” the suit noted.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing.

  • NIN-SIM Linkage: SERAP Writes Buhari Over ‘Unlawful Access To Subscribers’ Details’

    NIN-SIM Linkage: SERAP Writes Buhari Over ‘Unlawful Access To Subscribers’ Details’

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good offices and leadership position to urgently review and rescind the reported approval for security agencies to access people’s personal details via NIN-SIM linkage without due process of law.

    The appeal was contained in a letter dated February 5, 2022, and signed by the SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare.

    The organisation urged the President to “send executive bills to the National Assembly to repeal and reform all laws, which are inconsistent and incompatible with Nigerians’ rights to privacy, dignity and liberty.”

    The development followed reports that some security agencies have received presidential approval to access people’s personal details via the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of carrying out their duties.

    SERAP believes that the reported approval to allow security agencies to access people’s personal details via NIN-SIM linkage without due process of law directly interferes with the privacy, dignity and liberty of individuals.

    It also believes that a failure to rescinded the reported approval may cause millions of law-abiding Nigerians to feel that their private lives are the subject of constant surveillance.

    “The interference entailed by unlawfully or arbitrarily accessing people’s personal details is far-reaching and must be considered to be particularly serious,” the statement read in part, adding: “Interference with an individual’s right to privacy is not permissible if it is unlawful or arbitrary”.

    “The power to access individual’s details raises serious concerns as to their arbitrary use by the authorities responsible for applying them in a manner that reduces human rights and democratic principles by the monitoring and surveillance of millions of Nigerians.

    “It is crucial to rescind the approval, and respect the autonomy of individuals to receive and share information of a personal nature without interference from the authorities, if unintended adverse consequences are to be avoided.

    “The risk of arbitrary or abusive interference shows the importance for your government to comply fully with the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.

    “The right to privacy allows Nigerians to hold opinions and exercise freedom of expression without arbitrary or illegal interference and attacks.

    “Private conversations of individuals – which belong to their intimate sphere and contribute to their personal development – also enjoy strong legal protection and can only be limited based on the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality.

    “The reported presidential approval to security agencies does not align with the principle that any restriction on human rights capable of limitation should be the least intrusive means possible, and shall be necessary and proportionate to the benefit sought.

    “Violations or abuses of the right to privacy might affect the enjoyment of other human rights, including the right to freedom of expression and to hold opinions without interference.

    “SERAP notes that the right to privacy can enable the enjoyment of other rights and the free development of an individual’s personality and identity, and an individual’s ability to participate in political, economic, social and cultural life.”

    “In relation to the requirement of legality, any limitation must be expressly, exhaustively, precisely, and clearly provided for in a law in the formal and material sense. It is not enough that the restrictions be formally approved by the president or by any other competent body: they must also be sufficiently clear, accessible and predictable.

    “Similarly, measures restricting enjoyment of the right to privacy must comply with the principle of proportionality, meaning that they must not unduly interfere with other rights of the persons targeted.

    “In the digital age, protecting the right to privacy requires exceptional attention. While acknowledging the challenging issues that your approval may seek to address, SERAP is seriously concerned that this may be used as a pretext by security agencies to violate Nigerians’ right to privacy and other related human rights.

    “The undermining of the universality of fundamental human rights, alongside the potential encroachment upon the enjoyment of the right to privacy raised by the presidential approval, suggests the urgent need to review the matter, and rescind your approval, consistent with constitutional and international standards.

    “SERAP notes that the relationship between data principals and the authorities involves a power imbalance. Nigeria ought to provide the leadership in developing a data protection framework that is fully consistent and compatible with the protection of the fundamental and inalienable right to privacy.

    “According to reports, some security agencies have received your approval to access people’s personal details via the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of carrying out their duties. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami reportedly conveyed the approval to the relevant security agencies.

    “Mr Pantami also reportedly stated that the approval would enhance security as it would help security operatives to go after kidnappers and other criminals.

    “The approval would now allow security agencies to access the data of the over 73 million Nigerians who have linked their National Identity Number with their SIM, and other people who may do so.

    “While the effectiveness of the fight against serious crime may depend to a great extent on the use of modern investigation techniques, such an objective of general interest, however fundamental it may be, cannot in itself justify the unlawful or arbitrary interference with the right to privacy.

    “Unlawful or arbitrary access to people’s personal details would contravene section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protect against arbitrary or unlawful interference with one’s privacy.

    “Any constraints upon the right to privacy must strictly comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. These requirements are included in the Nigerian Constitution and the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.

    “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest”.

    The letter was copied to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and Mr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

  • NIN-Sim linkage: FG Extends Registration till 2022

    NIN-Sim linkage: FG Extends Registration till 2022

    The Nigerian Government has extended the deadline for the linkage of the National Identification Number, NIN, to Subscriber Identity Module, SIM.

    Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy disclosed that the deadline was extended by three months.

    By Pantami’s disclosure, the new deadline is now March 31, 2022.

    Pantami’s directive was contained in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

    He said the extension followed requests by Nigerians, both home and abroad.

    The minister also said about 71 million Nigerians had obtained their NIN, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.

    The statement reads partly: “As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen-thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country.

    “Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022.

    “This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.

    “The Honourable Minister has however implored Nigerians and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification.”

  • Again, FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification Deadline To October

    Again, FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification Deadline To October

    The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM data verification to October 31.

    This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management, Mr Kayode Adegoke and Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde of the Nigerian Communications Commission, on Saturday.

    They said the decision to extend the deadline was made following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, diaspora and address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.

    It also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicated significant progress hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.

    “As at July 24th, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM,” the statement read.

    “The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

    “The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for the security agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are supporting them as required”.

    According to the statement there are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.

    It also noted that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government, commended the Kano State government and other states that have made NINs a key requirement for school enrolments and access to other important services.

    He thanked Nigerians for what he described as their patience and compliance with the directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise so far.

    Similarly, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of that National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Azeez, have urged citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the October 31 deadline.

  • FG Extends NIN-SIM Data verification Deadline

    FG Extends NIN-SIM Data verification Deadline

    The federal government has again approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26, 2021.  

    This is the fifth time this year that the deadline would be extended.

    The decision to extend the deadline was made after a request by stakeholders on the need to consolidate the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process following the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country, a joint statement by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said on Tuesday.

    “The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

    “There are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN.
    “With the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NINs”, the statement signed by NCC’s Ikechukwu Adinde and NIMC’s Kayode Adegoke said.

    They said the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on behalf of the federal government, commended Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the federal government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.

    They equally quoted the  Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of that NIMC, Engr Aliyu Azeez, as urging Nigerians and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification. The joint statement said as of June 28, 2021, a total of 5,410 enrolment systems were now available across the country and “this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.” It is worthy of note that there were only about 800 such enrolment systems as of December 2020, the statement added.

  • FG extends NIN-SIM linkage till June 30

    FG extends NIN-SIM linkage till June 30

    The ongoing national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise has been extended till June 30 by the federal government.

    Minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami reportedly gave the directive after a virtual meeting with Adeolu Akande, NCC chairman; Umar Garba Dambatta, executive vice president of NCC, and Aliyu Azeez, director-general of NIMC.

    This was confirmed in a statement jointly signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

    It was also learnt that almost 54 million Nigerians with an estimated 190 million mobile numbers have obtained their NIN.

    The statement read;

    “The postponement of the deadline was also based on the request by stakeholders for an extension till 30th of June in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.

    “Significant progress has been made in the NIN-SIM verification process. For example, almost 54 million people have obtained their NIN and this can translate to up to 190 million mobile numbers, since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to 3 to 4 phone lines.”

    The Ministry which stated that the NIN is similar to the social security number and the national insurance number in the United States and the United Kingdom respectively, added that it is important for accessing public services in line with sections 27 and 29 of the NIMC Act, 2007.

    The statement added;

    “The much awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolments.

    “Furthermore, the telecom providers and other enrolment agents have also opened several centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens and residents to obtain and link their NINs.

    “The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

    “Dr Pantami wishes to thank Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise. He again reiterated government’s commitment to continually taking decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regard to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.”

  • FG extends NIN-SIM linkage by one Month

    FG extends NIN-SIM linkage by one Month

    The Federal Government has extended the deadline for linking Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) with valid National Identity Numbers (NIN) by one month.

    This was contained in a statement by spokesperson of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Kayode Adegoke.

    He informed the deadline was extended from April 6, 2021 to May 6, 2021 after participants at the meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on NIN-SIM data linkage agreed to have an extension of the process.

    The statement reads: “The meeting took place on Thursday, April 1, 2021 and approval was given to extend the period of the NIN-SIM linkage to the 6th of May, 2021.

    “The request for the extension was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and he endorsed it.”

    The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, chaired the meeting.

    The statement also stated based on the updates of the NIN registration process, over 51 million people had been assigned NINs.

    “There are many people who have enrolled and are in the process of being assigned NINs,” it stated.

    The statement added: “With each individual having an average of three to four SIMs, the total number of SIMs tied to NINs would close to the total number of registered SIMs in the country.’’

    It said the current number of monthly enrollments had increased significantly to about 2.6 million registrations.