The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to immediately restore all phone lines that were blocked due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers (NINs) to SIM cards. This directive was announced by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, on Monday.
The decision comes amid widespread agitation from Nigerian telecom consumers, who perceived the blockages as an attempt to stifle the planned protest in August.
Many subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone lines, prompting calls for urgent action from the regulatory body.
In an official statement released by the NCC, Muoka explained the situation: “Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers and consumers were unable to access their phone lines due to their inability to verify their NINs with their SIMs.
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This resulted in their numbers being blocked by their telecom service providers in compliance with the laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.”
The NIN-SIM linkage initiative, which began in December 2020, mandates that all SIM cards be linked to a valid NIN to enhance national security and maintain an accurate SIM ownership database.
Grassroots Parrots reported in March 2024, that government had set a deadline of April 15, 2024, for subscribers with four or fewer SIMs to verify their NIN details. This deadline was later extended to July 31, 2024, to provide consumers with additional time to complete the verification process.
Despite these extensions, many subscribers were still unable to link their NINs to their SIMs, leading to widespread disconnection of services. The NCC emphasized that the primary goal of the NIN-SIM linkage policy is to verify and protect users’ identities, thereby supporting the infrastructure for a robust digital economy.
READ ALSO: NCC Extends Deadline For SIM-NIN Linkage
“The consumer is our priority,” Muoka stated. “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.”
The NCC urged all telecom subscribers who have yet to verify their SIMs to do so promptly to ensure continued access to their phone lines. This temporary reactivation is intended to provide subscribers with sufficient time to complete the necessary verification process.