To link your NIN to your SIM, dial *996# on the line and follow the prompts, or use your network's own channel: *785# on MTN, *121*1# on Airtel, a text to 109 on Glo, or 9mobile's online portal. Linking is free. If the line is already restricted, the cause is almost always a NIN that was never submitted, failed verification, or does not match your SIM record. The fix is to check the status, correct the mismatch and visit a store with your NIN.
What this guide adds: the NCC's own linking steps for each network in one place, the MTN status check, a plain explanation of why a linked line still gets restricted, the NIMC fees reported for 2025, and the scams to avoid. Most other pages cover one network or repeat the 2021 deadlines.
This is for anyone in Nigeria with a SIM that has not been linked, a line that was barred, or a NIN that will not verify. Last reviewed 24 October 2026.
What the rule is
The NCC requires every active SIM to be linked to the owner's National Identification Number (NIN). The regulator's FAQ on NIN and SIM integration says linking is free, that all SIM users in Nigeria must do it (foreigners resident in Nigeria included) and that each line must be submitted separately to its network.
The deadlines have moved many times, and the FAQ still lists January and February 2021 dates that passed long ago. For enforcement, the NCC told operators in 2024 to bar lines with no NIN submitted by 28 February 2024. A Lagos court had restrained the operators on 22 February 2024, and the NCC said it was not a party to that suit and the deadline stood. No new deadline has been announced for 2026, so treat the rule as in force and do not wait for another extension.
Step one: get your NIN
- Retrieve it: dial *346# and press 1 from the phone number you gave NIMC. This works only on the number registered with NIMC. MTN's manage data page also lists *996*3# to retrieve your NIN on an MTN line. The NCC's linking page says retrieval costs nothing.
- Enrol if you have none: enrolment is done at an NIMC accredited centre. The NCC FAQ says the NIN is generated within one to five working days after data capture. The first NIN slip is free according to Nairametrics' report of NIMC's 2025 price list.
Step two: link it, network by network
The channels below come from the NCC's FAQ and its linking page, which was last updated on 9 April 2026.
| Network | Channel |
|---|---|
| All networks | Dial *996# and follow the prompts, or *996*NIN# |
| MTN | *785# or *785*NIN#; online at nin.mtn.ng/nin |
| Airtel | *121*1#, then option 1 for NIN capture; online at airtel.com.ng/nin |
| Glo | Text UPDATENIN, NIN, first name and last name to 109 |
| 9mobile (T2) | Online portal at 9mobile.com.ng/NIN |
The NCC's consumer guide, dated 2 April 2024, says *996# works on any GSM network. Some guides, such as a July 2026 Kuda guide, give different codes for Glo and 9mobile. Start with *996#, the code the NCC names, and fall back to your network's page.
Steps that apply on any network:
- Use the SIM you want to link, with airtime for the session and a signal.
- Dial the code and enter your 11 digit NIN when asked. Check each digit before you confirm.
- Wait for the confirmation SMS. Your network validates the NIN against NIMC's database and links the SIM if validation succeeds.
- Repeat on every SIM you own. One NIN can be linked to several lines.
You do not need to visit a store to submit a NIN, because the NCC lists USSD and online channels for linking.
Check whether it worked
MTN's NIN status portal is free. Enter the phone number, confirm with the one time code MTN sends to that line, and the portal tells you the action to take. MTN's manage data page also says dialling *996# confirms your SIM and NIN link. On Airtel, Glo or 9mobile, ask customer care for your status.
MTN's other codes are in our MTN USSD codes guide.
What a barred or restricted line means
Networks and the NCC speak of lines being barred or restricted. It means the network has limited the line because the NIN is missing or has not been verified.
The NCC's spokesman explained in March 2024 why lines that people believed they had linked were still barred. Some NINs were never verified by NIMC, and some records had mismatched names or details between the SIM registration and the NIN. Both need correction at the source.
How to fix a barred or restricted line
Legit.ng's July 2026 guide sets out the order below for MTN, and the logic applies to other networks:
- Check the status on the network's portal, or by *996# where it works.
- If no NIN is on file, submit it by USSD, the website, the app or a store.
- If the name or date of birth differs from your NIMC record, correct the NIMC record or get help from the network store. Verification fails on a mismatch even with a valid NIN.
- After verification, restart the phone or toggle airplane mode.
- If the line stays barred, go to a store with your NIN slip or virtual NIN and a valid ID. Staff can review the registration.
If nothing changes two days after a successful link, call customer care from another phone. MTN's customer line is 300.
Fees
- Linking your SIM: free, per the NCC FAQ.
- Date of birth correction: N28,574, per Nairametrics' May 2025 report of NIMC's new prices.
- Other field changes such as name or address: N2,000 per transaction (same report).
- Slip re-issuance: N600 (same report).
NIMC's prices can change, so check the amount on NIMC's invoice before you pay.
Scams and cautions
- Linking is free. Anyone charging you to link a SIM is not following the NCC's rules.
- Use only links from the NCC, NIMC or your network. The NCC FAQ says only those channels are authentic.
- A September 2026 Youverify report says NIMC warned in June 2026 of a fake portal offering free NIN modification. Update details only through NIMC's approved portal.
- Do not post your NIN slip online, and be wary of cafes that offer to "print" a slip and ask for extra details.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to link my NIN to my SIM? Yes, per the NCC FAQ.
Can I link without visiting an office? Yes, the NCC lists USSD and online channels. Visit a store only if the line stays restricted.
Why is my line barred after I linked? Usually an unverified NIN or a name or date mismatch with your NIMC record.
Can I link several lines to one NIN? Yes, but submit each line separately.
Who is covered? All SIM users in Nigeria, including foreign residents.
If you are unsure whether your phone itself will work, see our explainer on NCC's 30 day check for unapproved phones and the report that phones already on the network will not be disconnected. For finding your number, see how to check your MTN number.
Linking costs nothing. If someone asks you to pay for it, you are talking to the wrong person.
Sources: NCC FAQ on NIN and SIM integration, NCC linking page, NCC consumer guide, MTN NIN status portal, MTN manage data, THISDAY on the 2024 barring, Legit.ng, Nairametrics, Youverify, Kuda.
