Updated: How to link phone number to National Identification Number (NIN), how to retrieve NIN number, how to register for NIN

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stated that telecommunications companies have two weeks to block SIM cards not registered with the National Identification Number (NIN)

Following the directive, after 30 December 2020, all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) that are not registered with valid NINs on the network of telecommunications companies shall be blocked.

It was gathered in Abuja on Tuesday, 16 December that the declaration was part of resolutions reached during an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry that was convened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Failure to adhere to this directive will lead to your line being blocked or disconnected by the 31st of December 2020.

However, on the 22 December 202, the government announced that it has extended the deadline for linking mobile phones to NIN to 19 January 2021 for those who already has NIN, while those without NIN have until 9 February 2021, to get it and update their records.

Read more: FG extends deadline for NIN-SIM registration update till 2021

However, to avoid going into a new year with a blocked SIM, please read this article carefully.

First, we will show you how to link your phone number with your NIN and how to retrieve your NIN. Thereafter, we will also explain to you how to register for NIN assuming you do not have one already. If you have lost your NIN card or maybe it is damaged or stolen; getting a new card is easy. We will explain to you what to do to renew the NIN card.

ICYMI: All 9Mobile (Etisalat) Cheap Data Plans Codes 2020: Night, exclusive & normal data plans PLUS how to check data balance

How to link my phone number to National Identification Number (NIN)

There are three ways to link your phone (mobile) to your NIN.

1. Link your phone number to your NIN number using shortcode

MTN Subscribers

Dial *785# and get it done in a few seconds.

Airtel Subscribers

Dial *121*1#

Globacom (Glo) Subscribers

Text your NIN to 109.

If you have more than one Glo line and have already successfully linked your first line and want to register another Glo SIM to your NIN, send the following message to 109:

• UPDATENIN NIN FirstName and LastName.
• For example, if you’re NIN is 09876543210 and your name is Emeka Adeleke, text: “UPDATENIN 09876543210 Emeka Adeleke” to 109.
• Note: Do not include the ” in your message.
• After a few minutes, you will receive a message that reads: “Dear esteemed customer, your NIN has been successfully received. Thanks.”

9Mobile subscribers

Dial *200*8# on your phone and choose from the following options:

1. 1. Verify your linked NIN
   2. Enter your 11 digit NIN
   3. NIN registration centres
      • Press 2
      • Enter your  NIN and press send

2. Link your phone number to your NIN number online

• MTN subscribers: Visit the MTN NIN portal (https://mtnonline.com/nin/) to link your MTN number to your national identification number. Make sure you have your NIN number ready. Complete the online form by providing your name, phone number and NIN.
• Globacom (Glo) subscribers: Log on to the Globacom NIN registration portal (https://www.gloworld.com/ng/nin) and complete the simple form. Provide your name, phone number and NIN. Email is optional.
• Airtel customers: Log on to the Airtel NIN submission page (https://www.airtel.com.ng/submit-nin/).
  1. Provide your Airtel mobile (phone) number and a one-time passcode (OTP) will be sent to your phone number.
  2. Next, add the OTP that was sent to your phone and click on “Proceed”
  3. Provide your NIN number and click “Proceed” to complete your registration.
• 9Mobile customers: Visit the 9Mobile NIN page on https://9mobile.com.ng/nin/ and click on Verify and link your NIN.
  1. A new page will open.
  2. Provide your 9Mobile number to receive a one-time passcode (OTP) and click next
  3. Provide the OTP that was sent to your and click “Next”
  4. Provide your NIN number and click “Next” to complete the linking of your 9Mobile number to your NIN.

3. Visit your mobile network provider office to link your phone (mobile) number to your NIN

You can also visit the nearest office of your service provider (be it MTN, Glo, 9mobile, and Airtel) to register/link your NIN.

Just go along with NIN and your SIM pack. If you do not have your SIM pack, you probably should be prepared to swear an affidavit.

To be on the safer side, you can call your service provider’s customer care.

Recommended: 99 websites to download movies, tv-series for free (Hollywood, Nollywood

How to retrieve my NIN Number?

Could it be that you have forgotten your NIN, or you don’t remember where you kept your NIN slip?

Not to worry, NIMC’s USSD service enables you to retrieve your NIN conveniently using your mobile phone.

To use this service, simply go through the following steps:

Step 1: Dial *346#

Step 2: From the options displayed, select “NIN Retrieval”, by typing in ‘1’.

Note: you must be using the same phone number you enrolled with for your NIN.
Also, using this service attracts a fee of NGN 20 (twenty naira), which will be deducted from your mobile number’s credit balance.

Meanwhile, The Federal Government has ordered all network providers to cancel the NGN20 retrieval charges for the retrieval of the National Identification Number (NIN) with immediate effect.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami gave the order in a statement issued on Friday, 18 December 2020. The minister says the government wants everyone to be able to use the service and not to be deterred because of the charge.

Recommended: All Glo data plans 2020: Cheap, night, special & normal data plans PLUS how to check data balance

How to retrieve my NIN number online

At the moment, you cannot retrieve your NIN online as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) website is offline. The only way you can retrieve your NIN s by using the shortcode *346#. The shortcode works only with the mobile number registered to the NIN. If you have lost the number, you can either do a welcome back for your SIM or visit the nearest NIMC office to renew your NIN card.

What if I don’t have a national identification number, how can I get a NIN? Don’t worry, we will explain the process to get a NIN number in the following sections.

What is NIMC?

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is the legal body established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 with the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act, assign a Unique National Identification Number (NIN) and issue General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) to those who are citizens of Nigeria as well as others legally residing within the country.

Read Also: How to share data on Airtel, how to borrow data on Airtel, how to check data balance on Airtel

What is the National Identification Number (NIN)?

NIN is a set of digits assigned to an individual, by The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), upon successful enrolment.

Enrolment consists of the recording of an individual’s demographic data and capture of the ten (10) fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture and digital signature.

Your National Identification Number (NIN) is used to tie together all records about you – demographic data, fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture, other biometric data and a digital signature – in the National Identity Database making it relatively easy to confirm and verify your identity when you engage in travels and transactions.

This crucial feature of the NIN makes it key for all citizens (home and abroad) as well as legal residents of Nigeria to endeavour to obtain their unique NINs as soon as they can.

What is the importance of NIN?

The National Identification Number (NIN) is important because:

1. It is used for retrieving your captured information from the National Identity Database

2. Your matching information associated with your NIN can be used to verify that you are really who you say you are.

3. It helps provide accurate records about actual living/dead persons in every region of the country

4. It helps keep track of actual transactions as well as the movement of people within and out of the country

5. It helps confirm which individuals are in actual need of particular Government services, e.g. age and retirement confirmation for pensioners.

How to register for NIN?

Pre-enrollment of NIN

The pre-enrollment process of NIN is quite simple and straightforward as it can be called the “do it yourself whenever and wherever you are” process of enrollment. However, the NIMC website is down currently and so you will not be able to complete this part online. The downside is that you will need to complete the pre-enrollment form offline rather than online.

Assuming the NIMC (www.nimc.gov.ng) website is up, for the enrollment process, visit the pre-enrolment portal (https://penrol.nimc.gov.ng/), and complete your data in block letters. Then, print out a summary sheet that has a 2D Barcode

Note: Online Pre-Enrolment is an initial step in the enrolment process. The enrolment is only completed after the applicant gets his or her biometric data (fingerprints, headshot photograph and signature) captured and processed by an Enrolment Officer at any NIMC Enrolment Centre.

Since the online portal is not functional at the moment, you can register in any NIMC Enrolment Centre (ERC) close to you.

You will need a valid id card such as a driver’s licence international passport. If you don’t have any of these, you will need a letter of identification from your local government.

See also: All MTN Data Plans Codes 2020: Night, exclusive & normal data plans PLUS how to check data balance

How can I confirm my National Identification Number?

After enrolling for your NIN, a transaction slip is issued. You will then be informed when you can come for the collection of your NIN.

A second slip called the National Identification Number (NIN) Slip is issued when you collect your NIN.

The NIN Slip has your 11 Digit Number at the top left corner, second row.

How many times can I enrol for a National Identification Number?

Enrollment for the NIN is once in a lifetime. After you have enrolled for your National Identification Number, and it is presented to you, the Automated Biometric Information System (ABIS) will store all your information supplied.

Any other attempt to enrol again by the same person will be detected and this a punishable offence by law.

Once a NIN is assigned to an individual, it can never be reassigned, given or used by another person. This makes the number unique to individuals.

Re-Issuance of National Identification Number Slips

The NIN Slip can be re-issued in the case of the following:

1. Loss
2. Damage
3. Theft

1. In the Case of Loss

An applicant will be required to provide the following:

1. Police report (recent)

2. Court affidavit for loss of documents

3. Evidence of payment (N500)

4. Photo ID

2. In the Case of Damage

An applicant will be required to provide the following:

1. Evidence of the damaged NIN Slip

2. Evidence of payment (N500)

3. In the Case of Theft

An applicant will be required to provide the following:

1. Police report (recent)

2. Court affidavit for loss of documents

3. Evidence of payment (N500)

4. Photo ID

Payment Process

Step 1: Visit www.remita.net to start the payment process.

Step 2: Click on the option “Pay Bills”.

Step 3: Who do you want to pay – type in “National Identity Management Commission”.

• Name of Service/Purpose – choose “NIN Slip Re-issue”
• Amount to Pay – will be set based on your choice in the step above
• Payer’s Name – type your full name
• Payer’s Phone – type your phone number
• Tick the “I am not a robot” reCAPTCHA checkbox and click on the stated selection of images before clicking on the “Verify” button

Step 4: Click on the “Submit” icon to proceed to payment.

• A new page, which is the invoice, will come up which will display your RRR – Remita Retrieval Reference at the top of the page.
• Print the invoice and take note of your RRR.

Step 5: Choose any payment method convenient for you.

Option 1: “Card”
Option 2: “Bank Branch”
Option 3: “USSD”
Option 4: “Internet Banking”
Option 5: “Wallet”

Proceed to complete your transaction by clicking on the “Pay”, “Print Invoice” or “Continue”’ button as suited to your preferred method.

Note: You can also visit any bank to make the payment of NGN500 and provide the slip to any NIMC Enrolment Centre (ERC) near you and request for a NIN slip print.

ICYMI: All Cheap Airtel Data Plan Codes 2020: Airtel night plan code, Airtel 4G data plans, Airtel unlimited data plan