How to Remove an Old Phone Number Linked to Your NIN in Nigeria

If you have changed your phone number and your old number is still associated with your National Identification Number (NIN), you may want to update your NIN record to reflect your current number.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) provides a Self-Service Modifications platform that allows registered individuals to request changes to information on their NIN record, including their phone number.

Why should you update an old phone number?

Keeping your identity records up to date can help prevent problems when your phone number is used for identity verification or other services connected to your NIN.

This is especially important if you no longer have access to the old SIM or if the number has been reassigned to another person.

NIMC says the NIN is used as a foundational identity record in Nigeria, while NIN-SIM linkage is part of the country's identity and telecommunications framework.

How to change the phone number linked to your NIN

1. Use NIMC's official Self-Service Modification platform

NIMC's official website provides a Self-Service Modifications service for changes to personal information, including phone numbers.

2. Select the phone-number modification option

Follow the instructions provided on the official NIMC platform for updating your phone number.

Use only NIMC's official website when submitting identity information. Avoid unofficial websites, agents or social-media links asking for your NIN details.

3. Provide the required information

You may be required to provide information needed to verify your identity and process the modification.

Make sure the information you submit matches your official NIN record.

4. Complete the verification process

Follow NIMC's instructions for verification and submit the modification request.

If the self-service process does not work for your particular situation, contact NIMC or visit an approved NIMC enrolment/modification centre for assistance.

What if you no longer have the old SIM?

Not having your old phone number does not necessarily mean you cannot update your NIN information.

Because NIMC treats phone-number changes as a modification to the NIN record, you should follow the official modification process and complete whatever identity verification NIMC requires.

Do not give your NIN, OTP, PIN or other sensitive information to someone claiming they can “unlink” the number for you through an unofficial platform.

Don't confuse NIN phone-number updates with NIN-SIM linkage

There are two related but different issues.

Your NIN record can contain a phone number that needs to be updated.

Separately, your mobile network operator may have SIM cards associated with your NIN. NIMC and the telecommunications authorities have been working on NIN-SIM linkage as part of Nigeria's identity-management framework.

Therefore, changing the phone number on your NIN record does not necessarily mean that every SIM previously registered with your NIN has automatically been disconnected from the network.

If your concern is that an old SIM is still registered in your name, you should also contact the relevant mobile network operator and follow its process for checking or resolving SIM registrations.

Important security warning

Never share your:

  • NIN
  • NIN slip
  • OTP
  • Banking PIN
  • Password
  • BVN
  • ATM card details

with an individual who promises to remove an old number from your NIN.

Use NIMC's official channels instead.

NIMC's official website also provides information about NIN-SIM services and warns users to use the appropriate official channels for NIN-related services.

The Bottom Line

If an old phone number is attached to your NIN, the official route is to update your phone number through NIMC's modification service rather than relying on unofficial “unlink” services.

If you also have an old SIM registered in your name, contact the relevant telecom operator separately to address that SIM registration.

Always use official NIMC channels when making changes to your identity information.