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 operators about persistent service disruptions.

In recent weeks, numerous Nigerians have voiced their frustration over delays in retrieving stolen phone numbers or completing SIM-related processes, blaming what they described as an extended downtime on the NIMC platform.

In Nigeria, SIM swap procedures require NIN verification to confirm users’ identities—a measure aimed at preventing fraud and unauthorized access to mobile lines.

The issue reportedly began last week and persisted through the weekend, even after NIMC announced it had completed system maintenance and restored services.

One affected subscriber, Francis Onwu, shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “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 acknowledged the disruption on its official X handle, saying, “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.”

The telecom provider later updated users, confirming the portal was still inaccessible and that efforts were underway to restore full access.

However, NIMC has refuted claims that the problem originates from its end. Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, said, “Our portal is up and running. It’s the same platform that other critical agencies are using for verification and modification.”

Last week, the commission had announced the successful completion of scheduled maintenance and declared that all services had been restored nationwide.

“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.

NIMC encouraged Nigerians to visit its website to find nearby enrolment centres and take advantage of its self-service portal for updating personal data. The agency also recommended downloading the NameAuth app (oath.app), available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, for NIN verification and authentication.

Despite these assurances, many mobile users are still struggling to access essential telecom services linked to NIN verification, especially for SIM replacement.