NIN Verification Portal Downtime Cripples Banking and Telecom Services Nationwide

Prolonged NIN verification issues cripple SIM registration, bank account creation, and passport processing across Nigeria

In what many stakeholders are now describing as a national crisis, the persistent downtime of Nigeria’s National Identity Number (NIN) verification portal has severely disrupted operations across critical sectors of the economy. From commercial banks to telecom operators and government services like passport issuance, the effects of the portal’s unavailability are being felt nationwide, deepening public frustration and threatening digital service delivery.
Over the past week, banks and telecom companies have continued to express alarm over their inability to link NINs to customer data due to the non-functional NIMC verification platform. Despite assurances from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) that the issue had been resolved, operational realities on the ground tell a different story.

The NIN verification portal serves as the central backbone for verifying individuals' identities in real time across sectors. For banks, it’s a legal requirement to link new and existing accounts to customers’ NINs. For telecom operators, SIM card registration and activation cannot proceed without NIN validation. Even government agencies like the Nigerian Immigration Service rely on it for passport processing.
Many banks across the country are struggling to onboard new customers, process certain transactions, or even access customer data. A Primelineinfo correspondent’s visit to various bank branches in Abuja, including Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Zenith Bank, revealed long queues, delayed services, and visibly frustrated customers.
A staff member at GTBank’s Wuse 2 branch said,

“Yes, we have been having serious challenges with NIN verification since last week. We can’t open new accounts or even access some customers’ details. This has significantly slowed down our operations.”

At Zenith Bank, similar scenes unfolded.

“We are doing our best, but the situation is beyond our control,” said a customer service representative. “Without access to NIN verification, many of our processes are frozen. Our hands are tied.”

Not all banks, however, reported difficulties. Access Bank staff at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja noted that they were able to carry out account opening operations without disruption, though it remains unclear whether this was due to temporary workarounds or regional variations in system accessibility.
If the financial sector is feeling the pinch, the telecommunications industry is outright bleeding. Major telcos like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom have been unable to activate new SIM cards or process SIM swaps for customers. These services, which depend on real-time NIN verification, have now ground to a halt.
At an MTN office in Garki 2, Abuja, staff member Mariam Yusuf confirmed the severity of the situation.

“We have been facing this problem since last week. SIM registration and reactivation are completely suspended,” she explained.

Similar reports emerged from Globacom and Airtel offices, where customers were turned away due to the system failure. The implications are dire: businesses are unable to activate new phone lines, individuals can’t replace lost SIMs, and mobile service expansion plans have stalled.
Beyond the traditional players in banking and telecom, tech startups and smart mobility initiatives are also taking a hit. One CEO of a Lagos-based e-payment and transportation tech firm explained how the failure of the NIN verification platform disrupted their smart mobility pilot in Enugu.

“We’re piloting a smart transportation system with 4G communication nodes embedded in our vehicles,” he explained anonymously. “We haven’t been able to activate the SIM cards for the nodes due to the NIN portal failure. Our entire test run is frozen.”

The tech entrepreneur went further, raising questions about the security and reliability of national digital infrastructure.

“Is this not critical national infrastructure? Or is it just another IGR collection system? If we can't even keep such a system stable, how do we expect to drive a digital economy?”

The impact of the NIN verification portal failure stretches into public administration. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) is reportedly experiencing serious delays in passport processing because applicants’ NINs cannot be verified. This creates a bottleneck in international travel and affects thousands of Nigerians awaiting documentation.
In the wake of mounting public frustration, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) attempted to reassure citizens by announcing that services had been restored following what they described as a “technical maintenance exercise.”

In a statement released last Friday, NIMC said:

“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of Nigerians as we worked to ensure a swift return to normalcy.”

However, this announcement has been met with skepticism. On-the-ground evidence suggests the platform remains inaccessible for many institutions.
Efforts to reach NIMC’s official spokesperson, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, were unsuccessful. The NIMC staff member, speaking anonymously, acknowledged ongoing technical challenges, confirming that the problem had not been entirely resolved.
Primelineinfo's investigation reveals that the portal disruption may not be due to routine maintenance, as claimed. Instead, NIMC reportedly switched its software vendor without prior consultation with stakeholders, specifically banks and telecom providers. The sudden transition from the previous vendor to a new company, Bluesalt, caught operators off guard.
One telecom executive described the process as “an ambush.”

“In a sane environment, you notify stakeholders ahead of time and explain the rationale for switching vendors. Instead, we were forced to adopt Bluesalt overnight. We had no input, no heads-up. That’s not how you manage infrastructure of this scale,” he lamented.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), which represents telcos nationwide, issued a strongly worded statement blaming NIMC for the disruption.
Signed by ALTON Chairman Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Publicity Secretary Damian Udeh, the statement read:

“This disruption follows a recent directive from NIMC mandating our Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) members to transition to a new identity verification platform. The migration process has introduced unforeseen technical challenges currently affecting service availability nationwide.”

ALTON further advised customers to suspend any SIM-related transactions, such as new registrations, SIM swaps, and number portability, until further notice. The association emphasized its commitment to transparency and promised to provide updates as the situation evolves.
In response to the disruption, NIMC has encouraged stakeholders to adopt an alternative identity verification method known as tokenization. This method is designed to protect user privacy by substituting the actual NIN with a token for validation purposes.
Despite its potential benefits, adoption remains low. Most institutions are either unaware of the system or unsure how to integrate it into their operations. Users, too, find the process cumbersome and confusing.

This widespread service disruption could not have come at a worse time for Nigeria’s digital economy, which is still in its developmental phase. Experts warn that prolonged NIN portal outages undermine confidence in the country’s identity infrastructure and could discourage foreign investment in fintech and digital services.
Furthermore, businesses that depend on seamless verification processes are losing money daily, and consumers are left unable to access essential services. The ripple effect is felt throughout the economy, from financial inclusion programs to tech startups and public sector services.
Nationwide Disruption of SIM Services: What Nigerians Need to Know About the Ongoing Downtime
The NIN verification crisis has laid bare the vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. As banks, telecoms, startups, and millions of citizens grapple with the fallout, there’s growing consensus that a long-term solution must go beyond technical patches.
A strategic review of the NIMC's operations, improved stakeholder engagement, transparent vendor management, and a robust disaster recovery plan are necessary steps to avoid future disruptions.
Until then, Nigerians remain stuck, unable to open bank accounts, activate phone lines, process passports, or embrace the digital services their lives increasingly depend on.

By PrimeLineInfo