The statement reads: “The misleading, viral message mischievously displays NCC logo and ostensibly promises members of the public that, by clicking the web link and following further instructions in that regard, subscribers with barred SIM cards can unbar such SIMs across mobile networks without a valid NIN.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NCC wishes to state categorically that it never issued such statement, directing subscribers or indicating that subscribers can unbar their SIM without a NIN. As such, the originators and peddlers of the spurious message were out to mischievously mislead unsuspecting members of public. Therefore, their message should be disregarded.”
The NCC stated that it is national regulatory authority for telecommunications in Nigeria, and it is co-driving the process of the NIN-SIM linkage with theNational Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as directed by the Federal Government.
It warned that it will not, under any circumstance, act contrary to Federal Government’s directive to MNOs to bar SIMs cards not linked to NINs at the expiration of the last deadline given for the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.
On how telecom subscribers can get their SIMs actively connected to make calls, NCC said: “First, for subscribers that have not registered for their NIN, what to do is to get their SIM registered at accredited centres across the country and then link the NIN with their SIM cards through channels provided by their service providers.
“Secondly, for subscribers with registered NINs, what to do is to simply go and link the NIN with their SIMs through channels provided by their service providers.”
The NCC reiterated its commitment to the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM Linkage to strengthen security situation in the country, among others.
The Commission also stated that it is not recruiting at the moment.
It stated that advertisement indicating there is ongoing recruitment at NCC is a scam and should be disregarded.