Recently, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed all the telecommunication providers in the country to block all their subscribers who have not linked their National Identification Number (NIN) to their number. So, if your MTN is blocked, it means that this directive affected you.
However, the good news is that you can still link your NIN to your MTN number even when it is blocked. Once you link it, your number will be unblocked, and you will start using it again.
Linking of NIN to MTN after being blocked is not difficult, and you can do that by simply following an established procedure that we are going to show you as we proceed with our discussion. For more information on the reasons why your MTN line is blocked and how to unblock it by linking your NIN to it, kindly go through this comprehensive guide.
What can lead to the blockage of your MTN number?
In the past few years, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which is the body that regulates communication in the country, directed all telecommunication subscribers in the country to link their NIN to their phone number to enable the federal government to track the activities of criminals and improve national security. So if you didn’t link your NIN to your phone number before the deadline set by NCC, they will block your line.
When is the deadline for the NIN linkage to MTN?
Although there have been several deadlines from NCC to MTN subscribers to link their NIN to their number, especially in the middle of 2024, the last deadline that the commission gave to MTN subscribers to link their NIN is September 14, 2024. If your number was blocked before or after this date, then you can unblock it by linking your NIN to your number.
How to Link NIN to MTN after Being Blocked
Before you start thinking of linking your NIN to your MTN line, you should ensure that you have a valid NIN, and you can confirm the status of your NIN by checking it on the NIMC portal. Once you confirm that your NIN is authentic. You can start the linking process by using any of the methods outlined below:
How to Link NIN to MTN after Being Blocked Online
One of the easiest methods that you can use to link your NIN to MTN after being blocked is using an online portal. The online portal that you can use to link your NIN to MTN after blockage is the NIMC Mobile ID App.
- Visit Google Play Store if you are using an Android phone or go to Apple App Store if you are using an iOS device to download the NIMC Mobile ID App.
- After downloading it, you can install it to get started.
- Now, open the NIMC Mobile ID App, input your NIN in the space provided, and sign in to access your dashboard.
- Next, once you are on your dashboard, look at the bottom right of it and tap on the ‘’My Devices’’ tab option.
- At this point, you should choose the “Add Mobile Number” option and input the phone number that you want to link.
- Wait for OTP; once you receive the OTP on your phone number, put it in the space provided.
- Once you are done entering the OTP, your number will be linked automatically.
Alternatively, you can also link your NIN to MTN online by
- Visiting mtnonline.com
- Once you access the dashboard, click on ‘’SIM services’’ option.
- Look down the list, and you are going to see ‘’Link your NIN’’ option; click on it.
- Once you click on it, a page will prompt you to enter your MTN number that you want to link and your NIN.
- After putting, click on Link, and your number will be linked successfully.
In the same vein, you can also link your NIN to your MTN line by using the myMTN app. If you have the app, you can log in and locate the NIN linkage section and link your MTN number there.
How to Link NIN to MTN via SMS
The second method on our list that you can use to link NIN to MTN is by using SMS through a unique USSD code. The code that you can use to link your NIN to your MTN line via SMS is *966#.
- Locate your phone.
- Press *966* your 11-digit NIN#, on the dial pad.
- Click on the Send button on the number that you want to link. And your number will be linked successfully.
Can my MTN number work after linking my NIN to it?
Yes, your MTN number will be unblocked automatically once you link your NIN to it. What happens is that once you link your NIN to the blocked MTN line, the status of the number will be updated on the MTN portal, and your number will be unblocked instantly.
How many phone numbers can I link to one NIN?
The number of phone numbers that you can link to one NIN is 7. This means that you can link up to seven phone numbers to one NIN. So, if you have many MTN numbers, you can link all of them to one NIN.
How to Check if I Have Linked my NIN to my MTN Line Successfully
If you are not sure whether your MTN line has been linked to your NIN, kindly visit ninlinking.mtn.ng and enter the phone number you want to check. You will also be required to enter your email address to enable you to receive OTP. After that, accept the terms and conditions and click on Check NIN Status, and you will be able to see whether your NIN has been linked or not.
