The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all telecommunications operators to immediately restore phone lines blocked due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers (NIN) to SIM cards. This order was announced on Monday by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Media and Public Affairs.
The directive comes after a tumultuous weekend during which numerous subscribers found their phone lines deactivated for failing to verify their NINs with their SIM cards. This compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage regulations led to a massive public outcry. On Monday, frustrated subscribers thronged MTN offices across the nation, demanding the reactivation of their lines.
“The consumer is our priority; therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend, in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs,” stated the NCC.
The mandatory NIN-SIM linkage program, which began in December 2020, aims to bolster national security and ensure accurate SIM ownership data. Despite multiple deadline extensions, including a recent one to July 31, 2024, a significant number of phone lines remain unverified.
Originally, the deadline for full network compliance was set for April 15, 2024, with an exception for subscribers with four or fewer SIMs. However, recognizing the challenges faced by consumers, the deadline was extended to July 31, 2024, to provide more time for verification.
The NCC noted the persistent issue of unverified lines and emphasized that the current reactivation is temporary, urging subscribers to link their NINs with their SIMs promptly to avoid future disruptions.
Meanwhile, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) clarified that the recent disconnections were not related to any protests slated for August 1. Instead, they were part of an ongoing process to enhance the integrity of the National SIM registration database.
“Customers who had their lines blocked recently are those whom their service providers found a mismatch between their records on both databases. We advise such customers to contact their service providers through communicated channels for resolution of the issue,” ALTON stated.
