You submitted your NIN on MTN’s NIN Portal … and nothing happened. No SMS, no confirmation or worse, your SIM still gets barred days later.
I’ve been there.
In 2025, MTN’s NIN portal still glitches randomly—especially during rush periods before new NCC deadlines. In this guide, I’ll show you the 4 working ways to fix failed NIN submission and how I eventually got mine confirmed.
What Does “Submission Failed” Actually Mean?
It usually means
- The system didn’t receive your NIN
- Or your NIN was received but not linked successfully
- Or your record was already flagged (duplicate or mismatch)
Sometimes, the system says “success” but does nothing.
1. Confirm Your NIN Is Valid First
Before retrying, make sure your NIN is real and active.
✅ Check using USSD:
Dial *346# → Press “1” (NIN Retrieval)
If it fails to show your NIN, you’ll need to visit NIMC before retrying MTN submission.
2. Re-submit Through a Different Method
MTN supports multiple submission channels. If one fails, try the others:
Method 1: USSD
- Dial
*785# - Enter your NIN
- You may not get an SMS but the submission still goes through
Method 2: MTN’s NIN Portal
- Go to: https://nin.mtn.ng
- Fill in your MTN number and NIN
- Submit and then screenshot the result
And Method 3: myMTN App
- Open the app
- Tap NIN Services
- Submit your NIN under your registered line
- You may get a confirmation popup instead of an SMS
3. Wait 24 – 72 Hours Before Panic
MTN’s NIN system processes in batches, especially during high-traffic periods.
In my case, the portal gave no SMS confirmation, but the NIN was linked 48 hours later.
Signs your NIN was linked:
- Your SIM remains active past the deadline
- You can make calls, send SMS, and use USSD banking
- Your NIN shows as verified on the MTN App
4. If Nothing Works: Escalate the Issue
If 72 hours pass and your SIM gets restricted:
- Contact MTN via WhatsApp: 09033000001
- Or call MTN support: 180
- Send:
- Your MTN number
- Your NIN
- Screenshot of your submission or error message
- Any tracking reference from the portal
They can manually verify and reprocess your submission.
My Real Fix (What Worked for Me)
- Portal submission failed twice no SMS
- USSD
*785#showed “Submission Successful” but SIM still got barred - I retried via myMTN App, waited 48 hours
- SIM was unbarred automatically no support ticket needed
I later confirmed the linkage via NIMC App + myMTN App dashboard
Final Tips
- Always screenshot your submission (even if no SMS)
- Don’t assume “submission successful” = “linked”
- If you lost your line before linking, retrieve your SIM via SIM swap first
- Do not try to re-enroll for a new NIN, it can cause permanent issues
Conclusion
If MTN’s portal fails, it’s not the end. You have at least 3 other ways to complete your NIN submission, each of them tested and working in 2025.
The system is slow, yes but not broken. Follow these steps, and you’ll stay connected.
