Telecommunications operators, have been directed to immediately reactivate all phone lines blocked due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers, NIN, to SIM cards.
The Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), Reuben Muoka, disclosed this on Monday.
Recall that many Nigerians were agitated over what they perceived as restrictions by the NCC, which they felt were attempts to frustrate the August planned protest.
Muoka stated that many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines because of the inability of many telecom consumers to verify their NINs with their SIMs.
The statement read, “Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines due to their inability to verify their NINs with their SIMs.
“This resulted in their numbers being blocked by their telecom service providers in compliance with the laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.
“Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM, which began in December 2020, when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.
“Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline a few times; April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.
“This deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines have yet to be linked with verified NINs.
“The objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate. The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while also providing critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.
“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, given 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.
“Members of the public who have yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.”
Meanwhile, some Netizens have accused MTN of unknowingly fueling the planned protest by the blockage.
Below are some of their write-ups in a whatapp platform monitored by Metronetworknews:
~God is Great; ”Did MTN think properly before doing this? Na this one go cause problem and snowball into a protest. People shouldn’t be allowed out in numbers like this, especially now. MTN is unknowingly fueling the protest. What a wrong time to block lines. Not a sensible thing to do now. Why not allow this period to pass”.
~Okachikwu Dibia; ”That means MTN is inciting the protest”.
~Peacemaker; ”Not the best of times for implementation. But we have had all the time in the world. It is ill-advised. If it is the regulatory bodies pushing them to meet deadlines, they need to meet with them to impress it upon them that this is not the best of times to implement this”.
~hajiarabimohammed6: ”Am afraid that MTN is doing this now, they are not sensitive at all, i pray their Office will not be attacked. I am very sure the decision to embark on this exercise is beyond them. I can tell you that the staff there are working with fear. They are risking the lives of their Staff haha!!
~ Stephen Okodudu; ”This MTN barring of lines at this critical time will only encourage a large crowd of frustrated people that would otherwise have not been the case. It’s like adding petrol to fire”.
