Everyone living in Nigeria (citizens and legal residents alike) is required to have and know their National Identification Number (NIN). It serves as the primary form of identification in Nigeria and is essential for everyday activities such as opening a bank account, applying for or renewing an international passport, registering for standardized exams like WASSCE, and many more.
If you’re an MTN user, you can easily check your NIN using the phone number linked to your NIN profile with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
This guide will show you how to retrieve your NIN on an MTN line, especially useful when filling out forms or completing registrations without your physical ID card or slip. If you haven’t enrolled for NIN yet or haven’t linked it to your MTN number, we’ll walk you through both processes as well.
MTN’s Requirements for Retrieval:
- A mobile phone (No internet required)
- The MTN SIM you used to enrol for NIN.
- ₦20 airtime.
- Good mobile network strength.
How to Check NIN via USSD code *346# on MTN Phone Number
You do not need to provide any information to retrieve your NIN quickly from your MTN line. Follow the instructions below:
- Dial *346# on your phone.
- Input ‘1’ to select the NIN Retrieval option.
- Enter ‘1’ again to authorise the deduction of ₦20 from your airtime and proceed.
- View your NIN and note it somewhere, as it displays temporarily on your screen.
How to verify Anybody’s NIN via e-citizen
The e-citizen mobile app (on Android and IOS) or web platform allows you to verify anyone’s identity using their National Identity Number (NIN), confirm vehicle registration, and check credit scores at your convenience.
1. Using the e-citizen to verify NIN:
Here is how to use e-Citizen to verify and check anyone’s NIN information:
- Install the e-citizen mobile app (on Android or IOS) or visit the e-Citizen website.
- Sign up or log in to your account on the e-citizen platform.
- Once logged in, navigate to the verification section.
- Tap or click on the ‘Basic Identity Profile’ button.
- Input the NIN you want to verify.
- Make the necessary payment.
- Please note that an SMS will be sent to the individual whose NIN you’re trying to verify. They must give consent before you can access their information.
Also, e-citizen temporarily stores verified NIN results in your user account. The data retention period is 24 hours only, which gives you time to view them in your search results within the timeframe.
How to link NIN on MTN
If you just bought an MTN line, remember to link your NIN to your phone number immediately, as your SIM card registration will not be approved without this process. Hence, your MTN SIM card will be inactive until you register your SIM card.
Below are different ways to link your NIN to your MTN line:
1. Via USSD code *346#:
- Dial *346# on your phone.
- Input ‘1’ to select the ‘Submit NIN/Virtual NIN (VNIN) option’
- Enter your NIN and that’s it.
For a more direct request, dial *996*NIN# on the MTN phone number you want to link to your NIN.
2. Via MTN’s website:
- Visit MTN’s NIN linking webpage on your web browser.
- Type your phone number or email address in their respective textboxes to receive an OTP.
- Tap or click on the checkbox to show that you’ve read and accepted the terms and conditions.
- View your NIN status.
N.B.: It’s 100% free to link NIN on any MTN line or router phone number, unlike NIN retrieval, which costs ₦20 airtime, regardless of which telecommunication network is linked with yours.
How to enrol for NIN
If you don’t have an NIN yet, you can quickly get yours at the nearest NIMC enrolment centre, provided you have your BVN and a valid government-issued ID. Examples include:
- International passport
- Driver’s licence
- Certificate of origin
- An attestation letter from a prominent ruler in your community
- A declaration of age or a birth certificate
- Attestation from a religious or traditional ruler
- NHIS card
- Government-staff ID card, for federal and state civil service workers
- Tax clearance certificate
Conclusion
Now that you’ve discovered how to check NIN on MTN, you no longer need to take your enrolment slip or ID card everywhere and can retrieve your National ID number quickly. Just make sure you have enough airtime on your line and use the phone number linked to your NIN.
Aside from using the e-citizen platform for NIN verification, you can also use it to check credit scores, verify vehicle registration and ownership, and ascertain business legitimacy. You can register or log in to e-citizen using your Google account, which saves time and effort in completing forms.
