The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has refuted claims that the recent barring of some Nigerian mobile lines is connected to the upcoming nationwide protest.
Over the weekend, several mobile lines were blocked due to the failure of their owners to link their SIM cards with their National Identification Numbers (NINs). Some affected individuals alleged that this action was a deliberate move to suppress participation in the #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
In a joint statement released on Monday, July 29, ALTON categorically denied these allegations. The statement, signed by ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo and Executive Secretary Gbolahan Awonuga, emphasized that the subscriber line barring exercise is solely related to the NIN-SIM linkage policy.
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“The attention of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has been drawn to some online reports linking the ongoing subscriber line barring exercise with the planned national protest. There’s absolutely no connection between the two. The NIN/SIM link registration deadline had earlier been set for July 31, 2024,” the statement read.
ALTON clarified that the harmonization of the SIM Registration database and the National Identity Database has been an ongoing process aimed at enhancing the integrity of the national SIM Registration database. The association explained that the recent blockages occurred because some customers had mismatched records in the two databases.
“We advise such customers to contact their service providers through communicated channels for resolution of the issue. However, all operators have put in place measures to ensure that anyone whose line is blocked can unblock it by following some easy steps,” the statement continued.
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To assist subscribers in unblocking their lines, ALTON provided detailed instructions for each telecom operator:
1. Airtel: Dial *121# and input your eleven-digit NIN number. A confirmation message will indicate a successful unbarring.
2. EMTS (9Mobile): Dial *200*8#.
3. Glo: Dial *109*Your NIN number# (e.g., *109*12345678901#) and follow the prompts.
4. MTN: Visit [nin.mtn.ng] (https://nin.mtn.ng), check the NIN status, and if not linked, proceed to link it using an OTP and the NIN.
5. Smile: Send your valid NIN to customercare@smile.com.ng or call 07020444444, provide consent, and upon successful verification, the line will be unbarred.
6. Spectranet: Call the toll-free line at 8002345678, submit your NIN, and complete KYC at a Spectranet store. Alternatively, email care@spectranet.com. or submit online and complete KYC at a store.
7. Ntel: Visit any Ntel store with your NIN, provide consent, and verify your fingerprint for the line to be updated and unbarred.
In cases where these steps fail, subscribers can visit any operator’s walk-in center to resolve the issue physically.
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ALTON reiterated its commitment to supporting the Nigerian government and upholding citizens’ rights. “As an industry, we respect and commit to protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications,” the statement concluded.
This clarification aims to address the concerns of Nigerian telecom subscribers and ensure transparency in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage process, unrelated to any political activities or planned protests.