NCC Orders MTN, Glo, Others To Reactivate Lines Blocked Over NIN-SIM Verification Issues
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced the immediate reactivation of phone lines affected by the recent NIN-SIM verification challenges.
NCC disclosed this in a statement released on Monday by its Director Public Affairs, Mr Reuben Muoka.
Mouka said: “Over the weekend, a significant number of telecom subscribers experienced disruptions to their phone services due to issues with the verification of their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs). This situation led to the temporary disconnection of these lines in accordance with the government’s policies on NIN-SIM linkage.
“The NIN-SIM linkage policy, which mandates the synchronization of NINs with SIMs, was initiated in December 2020. This measure is part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to enhance national security and ensure the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database. The policy is also crucial for verifying and protecting users’ identities, thereby supporting a robust digital economy.
“Initially, the deadline for linking NINs to SIMs was set for April 15, 2024, targeting subscribers with four or fewer SIMs with unverified NIN details. Recognizing the challenges faced by consumers, the Commission extended the deadline to July 31, 2024, to allow for proper verification. Despite these extensions, many subscribers have yet to complete the linkage process.
“Given the difficulties encountered by subscribers and the importance of maintaining service continuity, the NCC has instructed all telecommunications operators to reactivate all lines disconnected over the past weekend. This measure is temporary and aims to provide affected consumers with additional time to complete the NIN-SIM linkage process. It is imperative that subscribers use this grace period to ensure their NIN details are properly verified with their SIMs.”
He urged members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs to do so promptly to avoid further disruptions to their services.