NCC orders reactivation of blocked lines, urges Nigerians to take NIN-SIM linkage seriously
…NCC, MTN insensitive to current challenges — Stakeholders allege
By Esther Agbo, Lagos and Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued an urgent directive to telecommunication operators to immediately reactivate phone lines that were recently blocked due to unverified National Identification Numbers (NINs).
This decision comes after numerous subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone services over the weekend, resulting from the enforcement of the NIN-SIM verification policy.
The compulsory linkage of NIN with Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) was initiated by the Nigerian government in December 2020. This measure aimed to enhance national security and ensure the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database. The linkage policy is designed to verify and protect users’ identities and support the country’s digital economy.
NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka in a statement stated, “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. Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.”
Since the policy’s inception, the NCC has extended the deadline for verification multiple times, with the most recent deadline set for July 31, 2024, however, despite these extensions, many subscribers have not completed the NIN-SIM linkage process, leading to the blockage of their phone lines.
Furthermore, he strongly encouraged subscribers who are yet to complete the verification process to do so promptly to avoid future disconnections.
The NCC added that the NIN-SIM linkage is important in maintaining national security and the integrity of the telecommunications system.
Meanwhile, Nigerians with divergent views have reacted to the incident, a development regarded as unprofessional on the part of MTN and the NCC as Several people accused them of insensitivity, considering the agitations for the forthcoming EndBadGovernanceProtest.
While others berate telecoms and the NCC of making life more miserable for the average Nigerians, some persons alleged that the move aimed to discourage youths so as to frustrate their mobilisation for the said protest.
During our visit to some of the MTN stores in Kaduna town on Monday, our Correspondent gathered that a large number of subscribers were sighted in a long queue, waiting for a miracle to happen as MTN staff were helpless due to poor network.
One of the subscribers, Mr. Peter Simon while expressing his grievances said, “this country is a mess. How can MTN and NCC be so insensitive to block customer’s numbers at such a time like this? Youths are planning to protest over bad governance and this kind of thing is still happening. The masses have been victims of poor policies for years without any solution in view.”
Another MTN subscriber, simply identified as Moses said, “What MTN did is a breach of contract. This is highly unprofessional and should be condemned. To some of us, our phone is more like our office so blocking our lines in this manner is very unfortunate because as it is now my office (MTN line) is close. Assuming you can even receive call but barred from making calls, it would have been more better because your clients could be able to reach you, at least. But there is no such alternative.” he worried.
Josephine Emmanuel reacted that, “They are just doing this because of the protest but it will not stop everything. If MTN is not careful, the protest will start from their office. I have linked my NIN more than five times, yet they blocked my sim card yesterday. This is the number that I have been using for over fifteen years.”
Another, Rabiu Mohammed opined that, “In the morning, it is either you wake up to queue for fuel or you queue in MTN office to unblock your line. Without doubt, I am confident that they are going to lose a good number of customers considering this kind of measure. This is to the extreme.”
In the vein, some of the MTN subscribers in Kaduna told NewsDirect Newspaper that they alternate to do sim swap so that their phone number can remain intact but there is no network.
They feared that the situation may aggravate the planned nationwide protest as residents continue to think of better ways to address their daily challenges.
