Telcos Start Final Stage of SIM Disconnection for NIN Linkage

Telcos Start Final SIM Disconnection: Nigerian telecommunications companies (Telcos) have blocked millions of phone lines from making and receiving calls.

This is in line with the directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

Telcos Start Final SIM Disconnection

The government directed Telco to block all subscribers whose NINs have not been verified before the end of July.

A lot of lines were barred by MTN, Airtel, Globacom, 9Mobile, and other telecom operators over the weekend. 

This threw affected subscribers into shock and disbelief as many of them claimed their lines had been linked with NIN long before now. 

NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, in response to the public outrage, said, “The lines were blocked by the telecom service providers in keeping with the laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.”

Backstory

Before Telcos started the final SIM disconnection, the government mandated the NIN-SIM linkage in December 2020. The government had ordered telco 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 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. 

Also Read: MTN Subscribers Upset Over NIN-SIM Link Issues

However, despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.

Note that the objectives of the NIN-SIM linkage exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria are to enhance national security and ensure the national SIM ownership database is accurate. 

Commission Offers Solutions To Affected Telco Subscribers

The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while also providing a critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.

The Commission, in response to the public outburst, said it is giving the affected subscribers more time to properly link their SIMs. 

“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. This is due to 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.”