Last updated: 16 October 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy
Your National Identification Number (NIN) now sits behind two things most Nigerians use every day: your phone line and your bank account. Since 2020 the government has tied SIM registration to the NIN, and in December 2023 the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) told banks to make sure accounts carry a BVN, a NIN or both. Rules were announced with tight deadlines, banks applied them unevenly, and many people are still unsure whether their SIM and account are properly linked. This guide explains what the rules say, how to link your NIN to your SIM on each network, how to link it to your bank account, how to check that it worked, and what to do if a line or account is restricted. Official channels change, so confirm current details with your bank, your network, the NCC and NIMC. This is general information, not legal advice.
The short answer
- SIM: Every active line must be linked to a NIN. You can do it by USSD or online through your network, for free. The NCC says only links and channels from networks, NIMC or the NCC are authentic.
- Bank account: A December 2023 CBN circular, as reported by Vanguard, requires Tier 1 accounts and wallets to have a BVN and/or NIN, and Tier 2 and 3 accounts to have both.
- Do it through official routes only: your bank’s app, USSD code or branch; your network’s code or portal. Never through an agent on WhatsApp.
- Wrong details? Fix the NIN record first with our guide to NIN modification.
What the rules say
For bank accounts
Vanguard reported that the CBN circular of 1 December 2023, titled “Tier-1 Wallets and Accounts: Mandatory Use of Bank Verification Number (BVN) or National Identification Number (NIN)”, requires every individual Tier 1 account and wallet to have a BVN and/or NIN, with Tier 2 and 3 accounts needing both. New Tier 1 accounts cannot be opened without one, and funded accounts without a BVN or NIN were to be placed on “Post No Debit or Credit” from 1 March 2024. Tier 1 accounts are the entry-level ones, with a daily transaction limit of N50,000 and a maximum balance of N300,000, according to the same report.
In practice, enforcement was uneven. In November 2024 Silicon Africa reported that many banks had not started restricting accounts, while some customers faced blocks and branch queues. Vanguard found banks giving conflicting deadlines, and a CBN official saying no new directive had been issued. So the legal requirement exists, but what happens to an unlinked account depends on your bank. Check with yours.
For SIM cards
The NCC says all people in Nigeria who use mobile networks must register their SIMs and link them to the NIN database, including foreigners living in Nigeria. Operators update SIM records with NIN in cooperation with NIMC. In February 2024 the NCC directed operators to bar lines not linked to a NIN, and Vanguard reported that some began disconnecting them. Our guide to SIM registration and NIN rules covers SIM replacement and SIM swap fraud.
Before you start: get your NIN
- Dial *346# from the phone number you registered with NIMC and follow the prompts to retrieve your 11-digit NIN. NIMC’s page says retrieval has been free during the exercise, but fees have changed since, so read the amount shown on screen.
- Or check your NIN slip, the NIMC app or an enrolment centre. See our guide to verifying your NIN.
- If your name or date of birth on the NIN is wrong, correct it first. Mismatched details are a common reason a link fails.
How to link your NIN to your SIM
The NCC’s FAQ lists these official routes, and its page says linking is free and can be done online or by USSD without visiting an office. The page’s content dates from the original 2021 exercise, so the codes may have changed. If one fails, use your network’s website or customer care.
- Any network: dial *996# and follow the prompts, or dial *996*NIN# to submit directly.
- MTN: dial *785# from the line you want to link and enter your NIN.
- Airtel: dial *121*1#, choose 1 for NIN capture and enter your NIN.
- Glo: send UPDATENIN NIN FirstName LastName by SMS to 109.
- 9mobile (T2): use the online self-service portal on its website.
Each line must be linked separately, and the provider validates your NIN against the NIMC database and notifies you if more detail is needed. Proxy linking is not allowed for individuals, according to the NCC, so you cannot hand your NIN to an agent to “do it for you”. If a line has been barred, use your operator’s official channel to restore it after linking.
How to link your NIN to your bank account
Bank processes differ, so use whichever your bank offers:
- Mobile app or internet banking. Look in your profile, settings or self-service section for “NIN update”, “KYC update” or similar, enter your 11-digit NIN and submit.
- USSD. Many banks offer an option under their main code for personal details or KYC. Use only the code on your bank’s official website or card.
- Bank portal or branch. Some banks have customer update portals. At a branch, take your NIN slip or number, your BVN and a valid ID. Silicon Africa says customers can visit their bank’s designated branch or use online platforms with a NIN linkage feature.
- Confirm. Look for a confirmation message or a linked status in the app, or ask customer care.
What is a virtual NIN?
A virtual NIN is a 16-character code that stands in for your real NIN. Nairametrics reported in March 2024 that NIMC says it expires after 72 hours and that you can generate it through the NIMC Mobile ID app or a USSD code. It is meant for verification by third parties without handing over your real NIN. The article did not confirm that every bank accepts it for linkage, so ask your bank first, and generate one just before you need it.
Your BVN matters too. See our guide to the BVN.
If a SIM or account is restricted
- Barred SIM: link your NIN through your network’s official channel, then ask the network to restore the line. Keep the confirmation.
- Account on Post No Debit: link the NIN (and BVN if missing), then ask customer care to lift the restriction. If it persists, go to a branch with your NIN slip, BVN and valid ID, and keep a complaint reference. If the bank does not resolve it, see our guide to how to report cybercrime, which also explains the CBN complaint route.
- NIN does not match: correct the NIN record first, then retry.
Scams to avoid
- “Your account will be blocked, click to link your NIN” texts are a classic phishing trick. See our guide to fake alerts and phishing SMS.
- Agents who ask for your NIN, OTP or PIN “to link it for you” are not official.
- Fake websites that copy NIMC or bank pages. Type the address yourself.
- Anyone charging a “fast-track” fee for linking, which is free for SIMs.
For privacy, see our guide to data privacy in Nigeria.
Common mistakes
- Linking only one of several lines.
- Using a NIN with a misspelt name or wrong date of birth.
- Using codes from forwarded messages instead of official sources.
- Linking the NIN but forgetting the BVN.
- Waiting until the account or line is blocked.
- Not keeping a confirmation or complaint number.
- Letting an agent handle your NIN.
Frequently asked questions
Is it compulsory to link my NIN to my bank account?
The CBN circular reported in 2024 requires a BVN and/or NIN for Tier 1 accounts and both for higher tiers. How strictly your bank enforces it can differ, so check with the bank.
How do I link my NIN to my SIM?
Use *996# or your network’s code or portal, such as *785# on MTN or *121*1# on Airtel.
Does linking cost money?
The NCC page says linking is free. Be wary of anyone charging for it.
Can someone link my NIN for me?
The NCC has ruled out proxy linkage for individuals. Do it yourself.
How many SIMs can I have on one NIN?
The 2021 FAQ set no limit, but another NCC FAQ summary says a maximum of four SIM cards per network operator. Check with your network.
What if I do not have a NIN?
Register at a NIMC enrolment centre. Enrolment and first issuance are free.
What if my NIN details are wrong?
Correct them with NIMC first, then relink.
Bottom line
Link your NIN to every active SIM and to your bank account through official channels, make sure the names match, and keep confirmations. Never give your NIN, OTP or PIN to an agent, and do not click links in messages that threaten to block your line or account.
Sources
- NCC: Linking your NIN with your mobile number (page states last updated 9 April 2026; deadline details date from 2021)
- NCC: Frequently asked questions on NIN and SIM integration (11 Mar 2021)
- Vanguard: Confusion over NIN, BVN link to bank accounts (1 Mar 2024)
- Silicon Africa: Deadline on NIN/account linkage elapses (12 Nov 2024) (its Tier 1 balance figure differs from Vanguard’s, so we used Vanguard’s)
- Nairametrics: How to generate virtual NIN to link with bank accounts (4 Mar 2024)
- AndroidPols: How to link your NIN to your bank account (16 Sep 2026) (blog; its deadline and legal claims were unsourced, so we did not rely on them)
Join the discussion
Have you tried this, or do you have a question we did not answer? 4 readers have already shared their views. Naijatipsland members help each other with real, first-hand experience.
Each line has to be linked separately, and the NCC doesn’t allow proxy linking for individuals, so nobody can lawfully do it for you. How many of your lines are linked, and did any get barred?
The virtual NIN is useful because it expires after 72 hours, so your real NIN isn’t handed around. Has your bank accepted a virtual NIN, or did it insist on the real number?
Every active SIM must be linked to a NIN, free, by USSD or online through your network, and bank accounts need a BVN and/or NIN depending on their tier. Did linking work first time for you?
If your NIN details are wrong, fix the record first, and never link through an agent on WhatsApp. What error messages have you run into while linking?