The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to promptly restore all phone lines that were recently blocked due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers (NINs) to SIM cards.
This decision, announced on Monday by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, is aimed at addressing the widespread disruptions and prioritizing consumer convenience.
The directive comes in response to significant public outrage over the weekend, as many telecom subscribers found their lines blocked after failing to verify their NINs with their SIM cards, in line with NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
This led to widespread protests, with subscribers demanding the reactivation of their blocked numbers.
“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, in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs,” stated the NCC.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy, introduced in December 2020, aims to enhance national security and ensure an accurate database of SIM ownership.
Despite several deadline extensions, including the latest to July 31, 2024, many lines remain unverified.
The initial deadline of April 15, 2024, for the full network was extended to accommodate consumers.
The NCC has clarified that the reactivation is temporary, allowing consumers time to properly link their NINs to their SIMs.
Subscribers who have not yet completed this process are urged to do so promptly to avoid future disruptions.
In response to recent developments, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has stated that the disconnections were unrelated to the August 1 protest.
The group explained that the harmonization process was part of an ongoing effort to improve the accuracy of the National SIM registration database.
“Customers who had their lines blocked recently are those whose service providers identified mismatches between their records on both databases.
We advise such customers to contact their service providers through the available channels for resolution,” ALTON advised.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government initiatives and safeguarding communication rights, data privacy, and security.
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