The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all telecom service providers to reactivate Sims barred concerning issues of National Identification Number (NIN) linkage.
Over the weekend many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines because of the inability of many telecom consumers to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).
This meant that their numbers were blocked by their telecom service providers in keeping with laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.
A statement by the the Director Public Affairs of the of commission, Reuben Muoka said the objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate.
The NCC directive is coming amidst escalating tension in MTN offices in Abuja, Lagos and other places over blockade of sims.
Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM which began in December 2020 when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.
The Commission has reviewed the deadline a few times since December 2023 as April 15, 2024 was also set as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.
He said this deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.
According to him “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 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.
Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.
“Members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.
On Monday, aggrieved subscribers besieged the MTN office in Maitama, Abuja in their hundreds following the disbarment of their telephone lines.
Early this morning, The Network noticed over a hundred people had camped in front of the Abuja office of the telecoms firm, grumbling over the inability to use their MTN phone lines.
A battalion of battle-ready police officers was also observed at the scene with their gear and a big truck.
The Network reports that there have been complaints across the country over the barring of MTN lines reportedly over the non-linkage of telephone numbers to the National Identification Numbers (NIN).
However, prominent lawyer and activist, Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN) accused telecom companies of working in cahoots with the government by disconnecting Nigerians’ phones to hinder the planned hardship protest.
Also, an Abuja based Lawyer, Barr. Perebo Sanami, recounted how his line was barred by MTN with no explanation.
The lawyer wondered why MTN would bar the line of a subscriber that is duly registered and linked to the NIN.
At the MTN Office in Abuja, a woman who refused to give her name for fear of being victimized by the government said she was doubtful of the claim that the disconnection was a result of the non-linkage of her MTN line with NIN.’
‘’I have done that. My line is linked with my NIN, yet I have been barred. I won’t leave here until the matter is resolved, “she said.
Culled from THE NETWORK.
