The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has insisted that its National Identification Number (NIN) verification portal is fully operational, despite growing complaints from telecom subscribers and service providers over continued disruptions affecting SIM swap and related services.
In recent weeks, many Nigerians have voiced frustration over their inability to retrieve stolen or lost phone numbers, attributing the delays to what they described as persistent downtime on the NIMC platform.
In Nigeria, completing a SIM swap typically requires NIN verification, a measure designed to curb fraud and prevent unauthorized access to users’ phone lines.
However, service interruptions reportedly began last week and persisted through the weekend—even after NIMC announced that its systems were back online.
One affected subscriber, Francis Onwu, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Please, what is the issue between NIMC and the Nigeria Communications Commission? My phone was stolen about two weeks ago, and each time I visit MTN and Airtel Nigeria, they tell me there is a downtime with the NIN portal.”
In response, Airtel Nigeria confirmed the disruption, stating via its official handle, “Please be informed that the National Identity Number portal is currently unavailable.
This is temporarily affecting our ability to process SIM swap requests on the Airtel network. We understand how important this service is to you and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.” The telco later added that restoration efforts were ongoing.
However, NIMC maintains that the fault lies elsewhere.
While speaking to reporters, the Commission’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, said, “Our portal is up and running. It’s the same platform that other critical agencies are using for verification and data modification.”
NIMC previously announced that it had completed a scheduled technical maintenance and fully restored its services. “NIMC wishes to inform the general public that the recent technical maintenance has been completed and all services have been restored,” the agency said in a statement.
The commission also urged Nigerians needing to enrol for NIN or update their details to visit the nearest enrolment center, as listed on its website.
Additionally, it encouraged the public to use its self-service portal and the NameAuth app—available on Google Play and the Apple App Store—for seamless verification and authentication.
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Despite these reassurances, many subscribers continue to experience setbacks in accessing telecom services that depend on NIN verification, particularly for SIM replacements.
