How to find and quietly unlink phone numbers tied to your NIN (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile)

Discover step-by-step how to check which SIMs are linked to your NIN, what to do when you find unknown or inactive numbers, and the practical, reliable way to delink them across MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile.

Your National Identification Number (NIN) is the master key to every SIM card registered in your name. The problem? Many Nigerians are now finding 5, 7, even 10 phone numbers tied to their NIN that they never personally registered. Some are old lines from lost or stolen phones. Others were fraudulently registered by scammers who bought or stole your NIN details from careless agents.

These “ghost” numbers are more than an inconvenience. If any of them is ever used for fraud, robbery, or terrorism financing, the trail leads straight back to your NIN, and the authorities will come knocking on your door first.

The good news: you can discover every number linked to your NIN in minutes and permanently remove the ones that don’t belong to you. Here’s the battle-tested, no-nonsense way to do it in 2025.

 See Every Number Currently Tied to Your NIN

Method A – The Official (but Broken) Ways

There are two “official” channels that the government and telcos keep pushing. Use them only to gather evidence; do not expect them to solve the problem.

1. USSD Code (*996#)

• Dial *996# → Option 4 → Option 2
• You’ll usually receive a partial list (or an error) and a useless prompt to “call 300” or visit an office.

2. NIMC Mobile App (MWS Mobile ID)

·         Download “NIMC” or “MWS Mobile ID” from Play Store/App Store

·         Log in with your NIN and registered phone number

·         Tap “Linked Numbers” → Select your network

·         You’ll finally see the complete list across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.

Take screenshots of everything. The “Report” button inside the app almost never works — you’ll just get a spinning wheel and an error message.

 

 Method B – The 100% Reliable Way (Takes 60 Seconds)

Send an email to nimcdataeconomy@nimc.gov.ng with the following:

Subject: Request for Full List of Phone Numbers Linked to My NIN Body: My Full Name: My NIN: Date of Birth: Request: Kindly send me the complete list of all mobile numbers currently linked to my NIN across all networks.

Within 24–72 hours you’ll receive an official PDF from NIMC listing every single number. This document is gold when you visit the telcos in the next step.

Step 2: Permanently Delink Unwanted Numbers (The Only Method That Actually Works)

As of December 2025, the only guaranteed way to remove ghost numbers is in person at your network provider’s flagship store or customer service centre.

READMORE: MTN, GSMA, and Partners Aim to Make ₦44,000 4G Phones the New Entry Point for Nigerians Online

• Original NIN slip or digital NIN on your phone
• Any government-issued ID (International passport, driver’s license, voter’s card, or national ID)
• Printed or screenshot list of the numbers you want removed
• A pen and paper (to write a short letter on the spot — some centres insist)

Exact Process That Works in 2025

1. Walk to the customer service desk and say clearly: “I want to delink phone numbers fraudulently registered with my NIN.”
2. Hand over your NIN, ID, and the list/screenshot.
3. The agent will verify your biometrics on their system (fingerprint or face).
4. They will raise a “NIN De-Linkage Request” and give you a ticket/reference number.
5. Removal is instant in most cases; worst case, it reflects within 48 hours.

Pro tips from people who have done this dozens of times:

• Go on weekday mornings (Tuesday–Thursday) before 10 a.m. — queues are shortest.
• Start with the network that has the most ghost numbers.
• MTN and Airtel are generally fastest; Glo can be painfully slow.
• If the agent claims “we can’t do it,” politely ask for the supervisor — 9 times out of 10 the supervisor approves it immediately.

Step 3: Lock It Down Prevent Future Fraudulent Linkages

After cleaning your record:

• Never give your NIN to random agents or roadside vendors again.
• Enable NIN-SIM linkage notification alerts by texting “STATUS” to 55019 (costs ₦20–₦50).
• Any new linkage attempt will trigger an SMS to your registered lines.

You now have a clean NIN record and peace of mind. Thousands of Nigerians quietly did this throughout 2024 and 2025 after the deadline panic  and it still works perfectly today.

Stay safe out there.