The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed telecommunications operators to immediately restore all blocked phone lines resulting from the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers to SIM cards.
This directive was announced in a statement on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.
The telecom industry regulator explained that this move was prompted by the widespread disruption caused by the blockages and aims to prioritize consumer convenience.
Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone lines after failing to verify their NINs with their SIM cards, leading to the blocking of their numbers in compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
This situation sparked massive outrage on Monday, as subscribers flocked to MTN offices across the country, demanding the reactivation of their blocked phone lines.
“The consumer is our priority; therefore, considering the challenges posed by the blockages, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend, given the limited time available for consumers to verify their NINs with their SIMs,” the regulator stated.
The mandatory linkage of NINs with SIMs, initiated in December 2020, aimed to enhance national security and ensure an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite several deadline extensions, the latest being July 31, 2024, many lines remain unverified.
Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline multiple times. Initially, April 15, 2024, was set for the full network, exempting subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.
This deadline was later extended to July 31, 2024, to provide consumers additional time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified.
