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How to Link Your NIN to Your SIM (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile) and Unblock a Barred Line
Every phone line in Nigeria must be linked to its owner’s National Identification Number (NIN). Lines that are not linked can be barred from calls. Linking takes two minutes with one code that works on all four networks — here is how, plus what to do if your line is already blocked.
*996#link NIN on all networks
*346#get your NIN by SMS
Freelinking at the operator
📋 Before you start
Your 11-digit NIN. Forgot it? Dial *346# from a line already linked to your NIN and choose “NIN retrieval” (a small fee is charged), or check your NIN slip or the NIMC app.
The line you want to link, inside your phone with airtime or network signal.
The name on the SIM registration should match the name on your NIN as closely as possible.
📱 Link with one code
Dial *996#This NCC code works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile. Choose the option to link or submit your NIN.
Enter your 11-digit NINType it carefully — one wrong digit links nothing.
Wait for the confirmation SMSYou get a message that your NIN was received and, later, that it was verified. Keep it.
Repeat for every lineEach SIM you own must be linked separately, including data-only and MiFi SIMs.
Network
Code
Online page
MTN
*996#
nin.mtn.ng
Airtel
*996#
airtel.com.ng/nin
Glo
*996#
gloworld.com (NIN page)
9mobile
*996#
9mobile.com.ng/nin
🔓 If your line is barred
A barred line usually still receives SMS. Link your NIN with *996# if you can, or go to the network’s customer service centre with your NIN slip (or NIMC app) and a valid ID. Lines are normally restored within 24–48 hours after verification. If the problem is a name mismatch, the operator will ask you to update your details.
⚠️
Fake “NIN update” messages
Never send your NIN, BVN or the codes you receive to anyone who calls or messages you “from MTN” or “from NIMC”. The networks will never ask you for an OTP. Only use *996#, the official websites or a customer service centre.
💡
Don’t pay a middleman
Linking at the operator’s office or by USSD is free. Anyone who charges you to “link your NIN” on the street is not doing anything you can’t do yourself in two minutes.
💬
Join the conversation
Did *996# work for you, or did you have to visit an office? · How long did it take to unblock your line?
Dial *996# and choose the option to check, or ask your network’s customer care. Some networks also show it on their NIN page.
Can I link someone else’s NIN to my line?
You can link a line to a family member’s NIN if the line is registered in their name, but the safest choice is that every adult links their own lines to their own NIN.
How many lines can one NIN have?
The NCC allows several lines on one NIN, but it has asked people with very many lines to confirm them. Remove lines you no longer use.
My line was barred. Will I lose my number?
Not if you act early. Link your NIN or visit a customer service centre; barred lines are usually restored after verification.
Written by the askJBoss team from public information and our own research; last updated November 2026. Prices, dates and rules change — always confirm with the official source. Spotted something that has changed? Tell us in the comments.
