The codes and routes each network and the regulator publish for linking a National Identification Number to a line, and how to check that it worked.
Dial *996# on any Nigerian network and follow the prompts, or dial *996*YourNIN# to submit it in one step. MTN also accepts *996*1#. Linking is free. If you do not know your NIN, dial *346# from the number you registered with NIMC.
The 11-digit number is on your NIN slip or in the NIMC app. If you have lost it, dial *346# from the number you registered with NIMC (a small NIMC charge may apply), or *996*3# on an MTN line.
The NCC's harmonised code *996# works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile. Follow the prompts, or dial *996*YourNIN# to submit the number in one step.
MTN: dial *996*1# and enter your NIN, or use the MTN NIN linking website. Airtel: dial *996# to check your status; the NCC's FAQ lists *121*1# (NIN Capture) for linking, so confirm on Airtel's site or in an Airtel shop. Glo: dial *996# to check the link status, and complete the linking at a Glo outlet. 9mobile: check 9mobile's website or an outlet; we could not load its site when we checked.
Your network checks the NIN with NIMC. You get an SMS when the link succeeds or if more details are needed.
Dial *996# again on any network to see whether the line is linked. MTN also has a NIN status page on its website.
| Network | Link your NIN | Check link status | Where it is published |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN | *996*1# then enter your NIN, or the MTN NIN linking website | *996#, or the NIN status page on mtn.ng | MTN help pages |
| Airtel | NCC FAQ lists *121*1#, select NIN Capture, enter your NIN | *996# | NCC FAQ (Airtel's own page lists *346# for registration status) |
| Glo | *996# to check, then complete linking at a Glo outlet | *996# | Glo NIN page |
| 9mobile | Check 9mobile's website or an outlet (the NCC FAQ named an online portal; we could not load 9mobile's site) | *996# | NCC FAQ |
| Any network | *996# or *996*NIN# | *996# | NCC consumer portal |
The Nigerian Communications Commission requires every active line to be tied to a verified NIN, and a line without one can be barred from the network until the link is done. The NCC also warns subscribers never to let their NIN be linked to another person's SIM, no matter how close the person is, because the line's activity is then recorded against you.
Only channels published by your network, NIMC or the NCC are genuine. Nobody needs your NIN by WhatsApp or a web form sent in a chat.
A linked SIM keeps your bank alerts and one-time codes flowing, which matters the day you move money. If some of that money is in crypto, Yesa sells USDT, Bitcoin and other coins for naira straight to your bank account, with the exact naira figure on screen before you confirm and zero sell fees. Across 1,700 measured bank payouts on Yesa, the median payout time was 4.7 seconds. These are historical measurements, not guarantees. The on-chain part, your crypto reaching Yesa, comes first and depends on the network you send on.
*996# on any network, or *996*YourNIN# to submit it directly. MTN also publishes *996*1#, and the NCC lists *121*1# for Airtel.
Dial *996# on the line. The reply says whether a NIN is linked. MTN also has a NIN status page on its website.
Yes. The NCC states that the linkage of SIM to NIN is free. *346# may carry a small NIMC charge; the NCC said it was waived during the 2020 to 2021 update exercise. On MTN you can also retrieve your NIN by dialling *996*3#.
Dial *346# from the phone number you registered with NIMC and choose NIN retrieval. If you were never enrolled, visit a NIMC enrolment centre; the networks cannot create a NIN for you.
The network checks your NIN with NIMC and texts you the result, or asks for more details if the check does not go through.
Yes, a NIN can be linked to more than one line in your name. The NCC's warning is the reverse: never let your NIN be linked to a SIM that someone else uses.
The Yesa Team. Details checked 27 October 2026. Codes and figures come from the institutions' own websites on the date shown; they change, so the bank, operator or regulator is the final word.