Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape witnessed one of its most dramatic resets in decades as mobile network operators cut off 59.7 million unverified phone lines in 2024, following the full implementation of the National Identification Number–Subscriber Identity Module (NIN–SIM) linkage directive.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in its newly published 2024 Subscriber & Network Performance Report, revealed that the country’s active voice subscriptions plunged from 224.7 million in 2023 to 164.9 million by December 2024—a steep 26.6% year-on-year decline.

Why the Massive Drop?

According to the NCC, the unprecedented contraction stemmed from two major developments:

1. Mandatory deactivation of all SIMs not linked to verified NINs, following years of phased enforcement.

2. A correction of long-standing subscriber data discrepancies, particularly by one major operator that previously carried millions of non-compliant or improperly registered lines.

The telecom purge was part of the Federal Government’s broader campaign—launched on February 4, 2020—to tighten security, eliminate anonymous mobile usage, and establish a cleaner, more reliable national digital identity ecosystem.

After a series of deadline extensions across 2023 and 2024, authorities finally drew a line: All unverified SIMs were shut down from September 15, 2024.

Government Pushes Identity Enrollment Capacity

Amid the aggressive cleanup, President Bola Tinubu announced that Nigeria’s National Identity Database had surpassed 126 million registered individuals.

To support the scale-up, the government expanded the database’s capacity from 100 million to 250 million records, easing congestion at enrolment centers nationwide.

Sector Indicators Take a Hit

The mass deactivations rippled through the telecom industry’s key indicators:

* Teledensity crashed from 103.66% (2023) to 76.08% (2024)

* Internet subscriptions dipped by 24.6 million users, falling to 139.3 million

* Active broadband users recorded a mild decline, though penetration ticked up marginally from 43.71% to 44.43%

Despite the subscriber wipeout, the NCC highlighted notable gains in infrastructure:

* Cellular coverage now reaches more than 95% of the country

* 3G coverage stands at 89%, 4G at 84%, and 5G at 13%

* Operators continued investing in network expansion and spectrum rollout, especially in underserved areas

Signs of a Rebound in 2025

While 2024 was defined by subscriber losses, recent data suggests the sector is stabilizing and gradually bouncing back.

Industry figures for August and September 2025 show:

* Active mobile subscriptions rose from 171.57 million to 173.54 million

* Internet users on GSM networks climbed to 140.36 million

* Teledensity improved to 80.05%

The NCC says these gains reflect renewed consumer confidence, with many users reactivating lines after updating their NIN records.

A Sector Reset—and a New Growth Phase

Analysts note that although the NIN–SIM purge delivered a heavy short-term shock, it has laid the groundwork for a more secure and accurate telecom ecosystem.

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With cleaner subscriber data, expanded identity infrastructure, and ongoing network upgrades, Nigeria’s telecom sector appears poised for a healthier growth cycle in the years ahead.