How elderly Nigerians blocked over SIM-NIN linkages pay dearly for digital revolution

Hundreds of vulnerable, elderly Nigerians have been left stranded and disconnected from their loved ones, with many unable to access their bank accounts over their inability to complete the mandatory National Identification Number registration. GODFREY GEORGE writes that for many, age, ill health, and the complexity of the process have become insurmountable obstacles, and with their SIM cards still blocked and bank accounts frozen, they face isolation, financial hardship, and exclusion in a system that offers no support for their needs

Battling diabetes and arthritis that have left both knees stiff, Mama Ngofa is living through what she calls her personal hell.

Sleep rarely comes to her at night, and when it does, it’s stolen away by a searing pain that begins in her spine, crawls down to her knees, and refuses to let go for hours.

Her late husband, a fisherman from Andoni in Rivers State, had relocated to Orosikiri, a community in Bonny Island, another local government area in the state, where they met, married, and raised two children.

Twelve years ago, he passed away following a failed hernia procedure.

“He didn’t fish for long before leaving the trade and taking up a job as a night security guard at the local government secretariat,” she said, her voice a blend of Ibani (an indigenous language spoken by the Bonny people), Igbo, and Pidgin English, each word drawn out with a long, weary pause—one heavier than the last.

She now lives in Borokiri village, a community accessible only by water.

Her two children live in Lagos—Mabel, 37, married to a pastor, and Father, 32, a photographer.

Mabel said it was her responsibility to visit home at least three times a year to check on how Mama was faring.

The siblings had divided Mama’s care duties between themselves—Mabel made regular visits, while Father sent money every month for her medication and upkeep.

Years ago, Mama Ngofa had a live-in maid, but everything changed when the young lady got pregnant and absconded with some valuables.

Since then, the family decided to split responsibilities to ensure Mama’s well-being.

Father even went the extra mile, contracting a young boy from the village to fetch water and help with cleaning over the weekends.

 “We’ve begged Mama to move to Lagos with us, but she has refused,” Mabel explained. “She said she wanted to stay in the village, stressing that it was her husband’s dream to build that house. She’d rather live and die there.”

However, one Thursday in August 2024, Mabel received a distressing call from the village. Her mother had been rushed to the hospital and was fighting for her life.

“I gathered everything I could and took the first bus the next day to Port Harcourt. From there, I made my way to Bonny main town before heading to Borokiri. My mum was seriously ill. I was shocked,” she recounted.

“I wondered why she hadn’t called me earlier, but she said my number wasn’t going through.”

It was only later that Mabel discovered her mother’s phone line had been blocked. Reason – she was yet to link her SIM card to a National Identification Number.

Worse still, it wasn’t even clear whether Mama Ngofa had an NIN.

‘She should come herself’

“So, after ensuring she was stable in the hospital, I rushed to the NIN registration centre at the town headquarters. The crowd I encountered was overwhelming. It took hours before it was my turn, only for the operators to insist that my mother had to be physically present,” Mabel said, her voice heavy with frustration.

She explained that her mother was over 70, bedridden, and in no condition to travel. But the operators were unmoved. Rules are rules, they insisted.

Defeated, Mabel returned to Borokiri after spending an entire day battling bureaucracy and risking her life on the waterways. The fruitless venture left her feeling helpless.

Without an NIN, Mama Ngofa’s situation became even more precarious. She couldn’t make calls in case of an emergency, and transactions tied to her SIM card were impossible.

Yet, the Borokiri community—home to hundreds of elderly residents like Mama Ngofa—had no registration centre of its own.

The nearest was stationed miles away at the town headquarters, and was an arduous journey for anyone, let alone a frail elderly woman.

Mabel eventually bought a new SIM card in her own name, linked it to her NIN, and handed it to her mother. But this workaround didn’t solve everything.

“I tried to change the phone number linked to her bank account, but the bank insisted that she had to come in person. I don’t understand this country,” Mabel lamented.

“How can my mother, at her age, be made to go through so much suffering? She can barely see, she doesn’t remember much, and they expect her to recall personal details to navigate all this bureaucracy?”

Mama Ngofa’s plight is far from unique.

In Dema, a nearby community, 81-year-old retired primary school teacher, Pa Marshall, has been facing a similar ordeal.

“My son took me to the main town to register for my NIN back in 2014,” Pa Marshall said. “I even linked it to my Bank Verification Number. But it seems something went wrong because the network providers blocked my two lines in September. Now, I can’t call my children, and I can’t access my bank account.”

In an attempt to resolve the issue, Pa Marshall embarked on another gruelling journey to the main town. But tragedy struck.

“On my way back, I had an accident and broke my left leg. And to make matters worse, the problem wasn’t even fixed,” he recounted.

“They told me I needed to pay N12,000 to revalidate my NIN because of a wrong date of birth. My son, I don’t understand what they want from me anymore.”

Pa Marshall’s voice cracked as he described how this debacle had drained him emotionally and financially.

Like Mama Ngofa, he now lives at the mercy of others to perform basic tasks that rely on mobile connectivity.

Across rural Nigeria, countless elderly citizens are caught in the web of a digital revolution that has left them behind.

The introduction of mandatory NIN-SIM linkage, while aimed at improving security, has inadvertently become a source of hardship for those least equipped to adapt to the changes.

The logistics of registration centres are part of the problem. Communities like Borokiri and Dema, with large elderly populations, have no nearby centres.

This forces residents to undertake long and often dangerous journeys, only to face crushing bureaucracy and endless queues.

“This shouldn’t be happening in 2024,” Mabel said. “My mother’s only crime is being old and living in a village. Does that mean she doesn’t deserve dignity?”

‘I’ve given up’

“I’ve given up,” said Mama Rebecca Akinkunmi, a 72-year-old food seller, whose phone line was blocked by her telecommunications provider for not being linked to her NIN. Without her phone, she was unable to reach her children or customers for weeks.

 

“That is why I don’t operate a bank account to this day,” she added, shaking her head. She explained that she was made to pay N5,000 to re-register and link her NIN to her line.

“It was my children who sorted it out for me. I don’t even know the number they used. I have too much on my mind to be keeping track of these things.”

Her voice grew quieter, tinged with resignation. “I am fed up. The system does not cater to people like me. Why can’t they create a desk for the elderly, where we can be attended to with dignity? We can’t keep standing in these long queues.”

Left behind

In Ajalamonia, a community in Finima, Rivers State, the issue of blocked lines is even more widespread. Most elderly residents there have had their SIM cards deactivated due to the NIN mandate.

Ma Beatrice, an 87-year-old woman, expressed her frustration.

“I am very sick. I’ve had this SIM card since 2011. Why can’t they come here to register me? They say I must do it myself, but I cannot make that journey. I don’t have an NIN because the government has made it impossible for me to get one.”

Her story is echoed in River Seven, another nearby community. Here, many elderly individuals rely on younger relatives or neighbours to make calls and send text messages for them.

Fishing is the primary occupation in these areas, but residents still hope for government intervention so they can access basic digital rights.

“Must we travel all the way to Finima to register for our NIN?” asked Pa Clifford, an 86-year-old fisherman.

“Can’t they bring the registration to us, like they do with voting and census? As I am now, I can barely afford to feed myself. The first day I managed to go to Finima for this NIN registration, the crowd was unbearable. And they were charging N2,000 per registration. I spent close to N7,000 on transport alone because I had to use a motorbike, as buses do not ply these routes. My line has been blocked for over three months.”

Pa Clifford now relies on the kindness of his pastor’s son, Praise, who lets him make calls for a small fee.

“I have all my numbers saved on my phone, but what good is that when I can’t make calls?” he said, his voice heavy with despair.

“The government has abandoned us. It’s as if we are no longer part of Nigeria.”

Praise mentioned that he had tried several times to get the NIN of the elderly people in his community registered, but all to no avail.

“The NIN officials said the place was too far for them to access and that NIN registrations cannot be done by proxy. Does that mean all these aged people here won’t have access to government services?” he queried.

For residents of Ajalamonia, River Seven, and countless other rural communities, the absence of accessible NIN registration centres has turned a national policy into a personal nightmare. They are left wondering how long they must endure this neglect and whether their voices will ever be heard.

Many elderly Nigerians, even in urban cities like Lagos, Akure, and Jos, who spoke to our correspondent, have found registering for their NIN to be an arduous task, especially since it has become a prerequisite for using a phone line in Nigeria.

They complain of technical issues on the NIMC portal, where they are often told to return another day because the servers are down.

The disorganised crowds at several registration centres often force elderly individuals to wait for hours despite their age. This is compounded by the extortion they face, with many registration agents demanding fees to facilitate their registration and link their NINs to their phone lines.

Burden of ageing in Nigeria

Ageing is becoming an increasingly critical issue worldwide, and Nigeria is no exception. With advancements in healthcare and socioeconomic conditions, the number of older adults in the country is steadily rising. As the nation with the highest population of older adults in Africa, Nigeria faces unique challenges in addressing the welfare and care of its elderly population.

According to Samuel Ebimgbo and Uzoma Okoye in their work, “Aging Across Cultures,” traditional and contemporary care systems for older adults in Nigeria are often inadequate.

They highlight that while middle- and low-income countries like Nigeria experience rapid demographic changes, welfare policies for older adults remain insufficient.

They argue that integrating older Nigerians into broader welfare policies and professionalising social work in the country could significantly improve their quality of life.

Historically, older people held high social value in African societies and are often revered for their wisdom and knowledge. They played vital roles in dispute resolution, education, and societal integration. However, this dynamic has shifted.

In a piece titled,  “The Changing Privileges and Challenges of Older People in Contemporary African Society,” Noah Lumun Abanyam of the University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State, points out that colonial influence and the introduction of formal education disrupted these traditional systems of care.

It was noted that with modernisation came a reduction in the power and prestige of older people, as formal education and technological advancements replaced their roles as the primary custodians of knowledge.

Abanyam explains that the rise of industrialisation and the push for material wealth led to the geographical dispersion of families, with younger members moving away in pursuit of education and employment.

This has left many elderly people isolated, with minimal support from extended family systems that once cared for them.

He further notes that in contemporary Nigeria, the elderly often face challenges such as inadequate food, housing, healthcare, and emotional support.

“Old age is often marked by depression and misdiagnosed ailments,” Abanyam states.

He emphasises that these issues are frequently dismissed as natural aspects of ageing, rather than being recognised as treatable conditions.

The elderly are also economically disadvantaged, with limited access to resources and social policies that primarily benefit younger, employed individuals.

The physical decline associated with ageing compounds these challenges.

Abanyam cites Charles et al. (2011), who observed that after the age of 40, the human body begins to lose efficiency, with more noticeable deterioration after 50.

They describe how weight loss becomes more apparent, skin becomes dry and wrinkled, and movement slows down.

These physical changes make it even more difficult for the elderly to engage in daily activities or access care.

In several communities across Nigeria, the elderly grapple with these systemic issues.

Many are left without proper support, despite the growing need for policies and frameworks to address their unique challenges. Abanyam recommends that African governments introduce monthly allowances for elderly people, both retired and unemployed, to assist families in caring for them.

Bridging the gap

In an increasingly digital world, the importance of equitable access to identification systems cannot be overstated. In Nigeria, the NIN registration and its linkage to Subscriber Identification Module cards have become critical for accessing government services, communication networks, and financial systems.

However, amidst the nationwide drive to implement these systems, older adults—a demographic projected to grow significantly in the coming decades—face unique challenges that risk leaving them behind. This issue mirrors a global concern, where digital inclusion for older populations remains a pressing matter, as highlighted by the United Nations and other international bodies.

Globally, the demographic landscape is shifting. The number of individuals aged 60 and above has increased rapidly, from 382 million in 1980 to nearly one billion in 2020, and is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In Africa, this demographic shift is also evident, with older adults expected to constitute 10.9 per cent of the population by 2050, up from 7.1 per cent in 2017.

Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, is not exempted from this trend.

Although the elderly currently make up only about three per cent of Nigeria’s population, their numbers are projected to rise from 5.8 million in 2021 to 25.5 million by 2050, constituting approximately 10 per cent of the population, according to a 2017 UNDESA report.

Despite this growth, the ageing population need to remain inadequately addressed within existing national policies and initiatives, including the NIN registration and NIN-SIM linkage campaigns.

The Nigerian government’s push for NIN registration and its mandatory linkage to SIM cards stems from the need to enhance security, streamline service delivery, and integrate citizens into a unified identity management system.

According to the National Identity Management Commission, the NIN serves as a unique identifier for every citizen, linking their personal data across multiple platforms.

65 million SIMs risk disconnection

Approximately 65 million phone lines in Nigeria are at risk of disconnection following the refusal by telecom operators to extend the deadline for the NIN-SIM linkage.

The final deadline expired on 14 September 2024, with the Nigerian Communications Commission mandating that no SIM card without a verified NIN should remain active from 15 September onwards.

Analysis by The TheNigerian indicates that around 65 million lines remain at risk, as linking one million lines within the time frame between the deadline announcement and the actual cut-off date would have been unlikely.

Data from the telecom regulator in March 2024 revealed there were 219 million active lines across major networks, including MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile.

Of these, only 153 million had been linked to NINs, leaving about 66 million lines unlinked at the time of the deadline announcement.

Speaking to our correspondent, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, confirmed that the disconnection process is already underway. He, however, noted that the total number of disconnected lines so far is less than 66 million, as many subscribers linked their lines even on the day of the deadline.

He said, “It’s difficult to provide exact figures for the disconnected lines, but it is certainly fewer than 66 million. Operators are complying with the NCC’s directives, and the timeline provided was both reasonable and acceptable.”

Adebayo urged subscribers to comply with the directive, warning against repeated deadline extensions.

“We cannot keep shifting deadlines and going back and forth. This is a national issue, and linking SIMs to NINs is critical for the country’s security and development,” he added.

Despite this stance, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has called on the NCC to extend the deadline. Speaking to our correspondent, the President of NATCOMS appealed for a one-week extension, suggesting the deadline be moved to 22 September.

This, he argued, would allow telecom operators’ customer service centres to operate over the weekend, giving subscribers additional time to resolve registration challenges.

He highlighted that persistent technical issues with the NIN portal had hindered many subscribers from completing their linkage processes before the deadline. “The NIMC portal was plagued with glitches for nearly a week, and it’s only fair that the NCC grants subscribers additional time to address these issues. An extension would serve as a buffer to accommodate subscribers affected by the delays,” he explained.

Barely two weeks earlier, the NATCOMS President, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, raised concerns over the challenges subscribers faced with the linkage process, including slow speeds and congestion on the NIMC portal.

Earlier this year, millions of lines were temporarily barred between 28 and 29 July due to unverified NINs, leading to widespread disruption across the country.

Following this, the NCC reversed the barring order, giving subscribers more time to comply.

With the most recent deadline now expired, however, disconnections have resumed.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s mobile subscriber base declined by 30.09 per cent to 153.32 million in September 2024, following the completion of the SIM-NIN linkage exercise and an audit of each network operator’s actual active subscribers.

A compounding challenge

One of the primary barriers for older adults is accessibility. Most NIN registration centres are located in urban areas, making it difficult for those in rural regions to enrol.

Additionally, the limited number of functional registration points often results in overcrowding, long queues, and delays. For older individuals with mobility issues or chronic health conditions, these challenges can be insurmountable.

The absence of mobile registration units or community-based enrolment drives further exacerbates the exclusion of this demographic.

Moreover, the digital divide significantly impacts older adults’ ability to navigate the NIN registration process.

While younger Nigerians are generally more adept at using smartphones, websites, and online portals, many older adults lack the necessary digital skills to complete even basic tasks. This lack of digital literacy, coupled with the absence of user-friendly interfaces tailored to their needs, further alienates them from the system.

Studies have shown that digital literacy rates among older populations in Nigeria are among the lowest globally, reflecting broader infrastructural and educational deficits.

Financial constraints also play a role. The high cost of transportation to registration centres, coupled with unofficial charges often demanded by unscrupulous officials, poses an additional burden on older adults, many of whom rely on pensions or family support for sustenance.

For those living below the poverty line, these costs are prohibitive, effectively excluding them from the NIN registration process.

‘The elderly deserve special treatment’

A digital inclusion expert, Dr George Essien-Udoh, noted that the directive to link NINs with SIM cards introduced another layer of complexity for older Nigerians.

Telecommunication operators, under government mandate, have been instructed to deactivate SIM cards not linked to a NIN, cutting off unregistered users from essential communication services.

For older adults, many of whom depend on mobile phones for contact with family, access to healthcare, and even financial transactions, this poses a significant threat to their well-being.

The NIN-SIM linkage process requires individuals to visit telecommunication offices or registration centres, further exposing older adults to the challenges of mobility, overcrowding, and digital illiteracy.

Essien-Udoh noted that, in many cases, elderly individuals are unaware of the requirements or lack the support needed to complete the process. “This has led to a growing number of older Nigerians being cut off from mobile networks, increasing their isolation and vulnerability,” he said.

Broader implications of exclusion

The exclusion of older adults from the NIN registration and NIN-SIM linkage processes has far-reaching implications, experts have noted. Essien-Udoh, for instance, highlighted that access to essential services such as healthcare, banking, and social welfare is increasingly tied to digital identity systems.

“Without a NIN, older Nigerians face difficulties in accessing these services, further marginalising them in a society already grappling with significant socio-economic challenges,” he said.

A sociologist and ageing researcher, Mrs Comfort Agboola, noted that social exclusion was another critical concern.

“Mobile phones serve as lifelines for many older adults, enabling them to stay connected with family and participate in community activities. Being cut off from mobile networks not only isolates them socially but also limits their ability to seek help in emergencies,” she explained.

Need for inclusive policies

Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritises the needs of older adults.

A developmental economist and researcher, Dr Musa Usman, noted that public-private partnerships can play a crucial role in bridging the gaps in the NIN registration and NIN-SIM linkage processes.

“By collaborating with telecommunication companies, non-governmental organisations, and community leaders, the government can implement targeted interventions to ensure that older adults are not left behind. One potential solution is the deployment of mobile registration units to rural and underserved areas. These units can bring NIN registration services directly to communities, reducing the need for older adults to travel long distances. Additionally, dedicated support desks at registration centres, staffed by trained personnel, can provide assistance to elderly individuals, helping them navigate the process more effectively,” he suggested in an interview with our correspondent.

Global best practices

Other countries have demonstrated successful strategies for promoting digital inclusion among older adults.

For instance, India’s Aadhaar system—a biometric-based national identity programme—includes mobile registration units and community enrolment drives that specifically target underserved populations, including older adults.

Similarly, the “Be Healthy, Be Mobile” initiative by the World Health Organisation and the International Telecommunication Union has leveraged mobile technology to improve health outcomes for older adults in countries like Senegal and Zambia.

Nigeria can draw inspiration from these initiatives, adapting them to local contexts to address the unique challenges faced by its ageing population. By incorporating lessons from global best practices, the Nigerian government can create a more inclusive identity management system that ensures no one is left behind.

NIMC’s response

NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, addressing the allegation of a faulty system, issued a statement in September titled, “NIN-SIM Linkage: NIMC Systems Working Optimally.”

In the statement, he reassured the public that NIN enrolment, verification, authentication, data modification, and other related services were functioning seamlessly to meet Nigeria’s requirements for the NIN-SIM linkage deadline.

The statement partly read, “The Commission wishes to reiterate that all its over Ten Thousand NIN enrolment centres across the country and in the diaspora are open for NIN enrolment. Nigerians and legal residents can visit any of the centres to enrol and be issued the NIN. This assurance is given in light of the 14th September 2024 deadline for the NIN-SIM linkage.

In a ‘Digital Public Infrastructure’ training session organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa and Co-Develop, NIMC’s Deputy Director/Head of the Strategy and Programme Office, Dr Alvan Ikoku, highlighted that the elderly and vulnerable can access all services provided by the commission from the comfort of their homes.

While acknowledging the challenges faced by the aged, he emphasised that the commission has employed agents to reach remote areas across the country, ensuring that residents in hard-to-reach locations can access the commission’s services.

• This report is produced under the DPI Africa Journalism Fellowship Programme of the Media Foundation for West Africa and Co-Develop.