Ever since the Federal Government of Nigeria made it mandatory for every citizen to have a National Identification Number, a lot of people have gone to NIMC centers for NIN registration. Some people do not know their NIN and so, cannot produce it when it is needed – especially during emergencies.
Have it at the back of your mind that your telephone line will be barred from making calls or disconnected outrightly if you haven’t linked your NIN to it. The National Identification Number (NIN) has become mandatory for every Nigerian citizen and the Federal Government has made it a requirement for every transaction or registration anybody is involved in.
If you are having a hard time checking your NIN, then this article is for you. Here in this article, I will show you how to check your NIN on any telecommunication network, including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile. Additionally, we will share with you some things you need to about NIN.
Page Contents
What is NIN?
NIN stands for National Identification Number, and it is a set of unique numbers allocated to every Nigerian citizen who has enrolled for the NIN registration.
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The enrollment process involves biometrics which has to do with the capturing of the individual’s demographic data and ten fingerprints, headshot, and digital signatures which are used to cross-check already existing data in the NID (National Identity Database) to affirm that their has been no previous entry of similar data.
As soon as this (deduplication) process is completed, the data is stored with a distinct NIN assigned to it. Once issued to a person, the NIN cannot be reused (i.e., the string of numbers cannot be issued to another person even if the previous owner is dead). It is the NIN that helps to link all records of a person in the database and is used to verify his or her identity.
How to Check NIN on MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile
It is very easy for anyone to check their NIN on their phone. One of the awesome things about this process is that you don’t have to use a high-end touchscreen smartphone with an internet connection to do this. You can use any phone at all, as long as it has SIM card slots.
Here is what you need to do to check and verify your NIN on your mobile phone:
MTN: Dial *346#, then on the options displayed, select “NIN Retrieval” by typing 1 (Follow other steps required to check your National Identification Number). Note too that a charge of ₦20 will be deducted from your airtime account balance to complete the process. Therefore, endeavor to have at least ₦20 airtime on your phone.
Glo: To successfully check your NIN on the Glo network, simply dial *346#, After dialing the code, an options menu will appear, next is to type 1 to Select “NIN Retrieval” (Follow other steps required to check your National Identification Number, NIN). The ₦20 charge also applies here as well.
Airtel: To check NIN on your Airtel network, just dial *346#. After you have done that, a menu of options will be displayed on your screen. Select 1 to select “NIN Retrieval”, follow through the steps required to check your NIN and you will be shown your NIN afterward. The ₦20 charge also applies here as well.
9Mobile: The procedure for checking NIN on 9Mobile is also similar to that of Airtel, MTN, and Glo. Simply dial *346#, select 1 to “NIN Retrieval” then follow through with the directives on the menu options that will pop up on your screen. After doing that, your NIN will be sent to you immediately.
Guidelines for NIN Registration
The National Identification Number (NIN) consists of a string of 11 unique numbers that are selected at random and assigned to an individual upon completion of registration in the National Identity Database (NIDB). Once a NIN has been assigned to an individual, it can never be reassigned, given, or used by another person – this is what makes them unique in nature.
In the event of a person’s death, their NIN will be retired as soon as a death certificate is presented and issued to the family of the deceased. The NIN is used to link all records of a person in the database and is also used to establish or verify their identity.
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All citizens and individuals legally resident in Nigeria from age zero (birth) and above are eligible to enroll for their NINs. The NIN should be closely guarded and kept confidential by the owners and should never be disclosed to everyone except when requested by the banks, government, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant authorities in the country.
In the same vein, the NIN should never be revealed on the internet or social media platforms and should not be one of the contact details printed on business cards and other office stationery.
Eligibility and Requirements For NIN Registration
It is compulsory for every citizen and every legal resident to register for the National Identification Number (NIN). The process is the same whether you choose self-service or need assisted service. Minors do not receive an identity card until they have reached the mature age of 16.
As soon as you have finished enrolling for NIN, you will be presented with two slips namely:
Transaction Slip
NIN Slip indicating completion of enrolment.
To collect your NIN, you are required to visit any of the NIMC enrollment centers, but in some cases, you might be referred to any other center apart from the center where you got your enrollment form. Also, you can only collect your NIN by yourself and not by proxy.
How to Link Your NIN With the NIMC Mobile App
Yes, I will show you how to link your NIN using the NIMC mobile app. The NIMC mobile makes it possible for you to link up to seven different networks to your NIN, to achieve this simply follow the steps below:
Open the NIMC mobile app after you have downloaded and installed it.
Next is to Log in to the App using your security PIN.
On the home page, select “MY DEVICES”
Click on “ADD MOBILE NUMBER” and enter the phone number you would like to link your NIN to.
Last but not least, enter the OTP code that was sent to that number to complete the process.
How To Link Your 9mobile, MTN, Glo, and Airtel Line To NIN
If you are finding it difficult trying to link your NIN to any of the mobile networks above, there is no cause for alarm. I will be showing you the various steps to follow when linking your NIN to any of the telecommunication networks in Nigeria: MTN, Glo, Airtel, or 9mobile.
How To Link MTN Line to NIN
To link your MTN line to your NIN simply dial *785# using the MTN line you want to link your NIN to, followed by your national identification number, and submit the request. You can also dial *785*NIN#.
Send your NIN as a text message to 785.
Alternatively, you can achieve this through your MTN app. To do this, simply download the MyMTN app. After installing the MTN app, submit your details coupled with your NIN for verification.
You can also visit the MTN website and enter the necessary information into the system.
Visit the Glo website and provide your personal details.
Simply dial *109#, then enter your NIN, You can also dial *109*Your NIN#.
Send the NIN as a text message to 109.
How To Link Your Airtel Line to NIN
Airtel users can also link their National Identification Numbers to their phone numbers, WiFi router, MiFi, and ODU digits. Here is how to do it:
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To link your NIN to your Airtel line, dial *121*1#.
Now, enter your NIN and press the send button.
To link your router/MiFi and ODU digits, visit the Airtel website to provide the details.
How To Link Your 9mobile Line to NIN
If you are a 9mobile user, follow these easy steps to link your NIN to your mobile number:
Simply Dial *996# and then provide your NIN.
You can also log onto the 9mobile website and submit the required information.
Benefits of Linking Your NIN to Your Line
Linking your National Identification Number (NIN) to your phone number, also known as SIM card registration, comes with several benefits:
Security: It enhances the security of your mobile communications by tying your phone number to your unique national identification. This can help in preventing unauthorized access and fraudulent activities.
Identity Verification: Linking your NIN to your phone number ensures a more robust identity verification process. This is particularly important for online transactions and services that require strong authentication.
Government Services: It facilitates easier access to government services and initiatives. Many government programs and services may require NIN-linked phone numbers for authentication and communication.
Crime Prevention: It helps in curbing criminal activities such as fraud, cybercrime, and terrorism. By associating each phone number with a unique individual, it becomes easier to track and monitor suspicious activities.
Service Provision: Telecom operators and service providers can use the linked NIN to offer more personalized and secure services to their customers. This may include customized packages, targeted promotions, and improved customer support.
Data Accuracy: Linking NIN to phone numbers contributes to the accuracy of databases. This is crucial for statistical purposes, planning, and research.
National Planning: The aggregated and anonymized data from linked NINs can be valuable for national planning, policy formulation, and resource allocation.
How to Register for NIN Online
To register your NIN online, visit the NIMC website and go to the pre-enrolment portal. On the portal, key in all the needed information in block letters and then print out a summary sheet that has a 2D Barcode.
Is NIN the same as the SEQ number?
After a viral social media post claimed that the SEQ number on the old national ID card could be used as the national identification number, NIMC moved with speed to dispel the claims. NIMC maintained that the old ID had been discontinued and everyone should enroll for the NIN.
Why is NIN important?
The National Identification Number, NIN very important and mandatory in Nigeria as it serves as a form of identification for Nigerian citizens. Once you have registered and acquired your NIN, no one else can have a similar one, whether alive or dead.
The numbers are unique and are connected to a person’s database that has details about your personal information, fingerprints, biometric data, facial capture, and digital signature. It allows you to access various essential services and also facilitates transactions.
Conclusion
If you are having issues linking your NIN to your telephone line, then you should visit the office of your telephone network service provider to help you out. Remember to go with your NIN slip and SIM pack.
If you happen to lose or misplace your SIM card and want to get a new one, your NIN will be required to complete the SIM registration process. Without your NIN, you will not be able to register or get a new SIM card. Even if you haven’t enrolled for NIN, it is highly important that you look around for any designated NIMC centers near you to register and collect your NIN.
This is to avoid being disconnected from the network service. Remember the NIN is a must-have for every Nigerian citizen. It is a valid medium of identification in Nigeria. We hope you found this helpful.
Hi there, I'm Heaven. I'm an entrepreneur, blogger, and digital marketing enthusiast. When I'm not watching anime or learning something new from TikTok, I post and vlog about my incredible life experiences as a digital entrepreneur.
