Telecommunication companies have been instructed by the Nigerian Communications Commission to immediately unblock all telephone lines of subscribers, following protests by thousands of customers who stormed the companies’ offices.
Subscribers whose phone lines were blocked due to the lack of linkage between their National Identification Numbers and SIM cards demonstrated at the company offices within 24 hours of the incident.
An undisclosed source stated that approximately three million telephone lines from various mobile operators in the country were affected.
The NCC, through Director of Media and Public Affairs Reuben Muoka, issued a statement on Monday explaining that the directive to restore the blocked phone lines was in response to the widespread disruptions and subscriber outrage caused by the blockages.
Many subscribers were unable to use their phone lines on Sunday as a result of failing to verify their National Identification Numbers with their SIMs, leading to their numbers being blocked to comply with the NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
Despite concerns about potential communication disruptions coinciding with the nationwide protests scheduled for August 1, the industry regulator and telcos clarified that the disconnections were part of a data harmonization exercise.
The NCC emphasized that affected consumers should take note that the reactivation of their lines is temporary to give them time to properly link their NINs to their SIMs.
Subscribers who have not yet verified their SIMs were urged to do so promptly to maintain access to services.
The mandatory linkage of NINs with SIMs, initiated in December 2020, aimed to enhance the country’s security by ensuring an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite deadline extensions, including the latest to July 31, 2024, a significant number of lines remain unverified.
According to MTN Nigeria’s earnings report for the year ending December 31, 2023, 4.2 million lines were disconnected after the February 28 deadline for SIM-NIN linking expired.
Airtel Nigeria reported in May that 5.7 million subscribers were yet to link their SIMs to NINs and assured customers of assistance in the verification process.
Globacom and 9mobile have not disclosed data on the number of subscribers affected, as they are not publicly traded companies.
Videos and images on social media showed long queues of customers at MTN offices, with many expressing frustration over the disconnections.
An official from MTN mentioned the company increased staff to serve subscribers better and introduced a self-service option for NIN linking.
The President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers indicated that some subscribers had not complied with instructions to link their SIMs with NINs and acknowledged the need for the disconnections.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria clarified that the recent disconnections were unrelated to the planned August 1 protest and advised affected customers to contact their service providers for resolution.