The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to numerous publications in both print and electronic media regarding the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM registration records with the National Identity Number (NIN).

“It is, therefore, necessary for the commission to issue this clarification to allay fears of subscribers and the general public.”

The regulator noted that most of the publications were based on the erroneous assumption that for every network or SIM connection, there was a unique human subscriber.

NCC explained that with the advent of social media and app-driven digital environment, network subscriptions went beyond human subscribers to include machines like PoS, routers, Wi-Fi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, and tracking devices.

According to the agency, a recent survey conducted in Nigeria showed that on average, there are approximately four to five SIMs to every human subscriber.

This, it noted, explained the basis for linkage of up to seven SIMs to one unique NIN in the recently launched Federal Government portal.

NCC went on: “Thus, if there are 43 million Nigerians with NINs, this could account for about 172 million SIMs already linked to NINs.

“It is very important to emphasize that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIM(s) is for the common good of all Nigerians, as it has far-reaching benefits.”