NIN System Gets Boost as Telcos Complete Upgrade

After several weeks of uncertainty, Nigeria’s telecom industry is now fully integrated with the NINAuth platform — a secure, upgraded identity verification system developed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The successful migration marks a crucial step in improving digital identity access and restoring normalcy to SIM-related services across the country.

According to Lanre Yusuf, NIMC’s Director of IT/IDD, the transition signals renewed trust in Nigeria’s digital ID architecture.

“This milestone reflects our commitment to securing digital identity and empowering Nigerians with greater control over their personal data,” Yusuf said.

The NINAuth system, built internally by the Commission, allows seamless identity verification for services such as SIM registration, retrieval, porting, and swaps. Telcos like MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile had struggled with service delivery in the past month due to the ongoing migration.

Weeks of Disruption Now Over

The announcement follows a difficult period for telecom users. In late June 2025, telcos suspended critical SIM-related services when the previous verification platform became unreliable during the switchover to NINAuth. The downtime affected mobile communication, online banking, and other services linked to phone numbers.

During this period, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) urged subscribers to delay SIM requests. Meanwhile, NIMC insisted the new system was working, stating that telcos needed more time to complete integration. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was also involved in efforts to resolve the situation.

Now that full integration is complete, users should begin experiencing smoother access to services.

The NINAuth platform does more than fix technical issues. According to Dr Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, it also changes how Nigerians interact with their personal data.

“The goal is to place control of identity data in the hands of the rightful owners — the Nigerian people,” he said.