2024

April

when

The Nigerian Communications Commission (<a href="https://ncc.gov.ng/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NCC)</a> has ordered that telco companies should suspend the ongoing suspension of SIM/numbers of subscribers who have not connected their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs). 
According to a statement by the telecoms regulator gave the order following the challenges that the recent blockages have caused: 
“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 because of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs”, the NCC said. 
The statement also noted that this grace period will be limited: “Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM”, it said. The statement did not however state a new deadline. 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Dr-Aminu-Maida-EVC-Official-Portriat-2024.jpg" alt="NCC suspends January 18 disconnection of Globacom services by MTN for 21 days" class="wp-image-225090" width="600" height="750">
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In its statement, the NCC justified the exercise by claiming that it was meant to improve the country’s security architecture. 
“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 NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while providing a critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry”, the statement said. 
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 The compulsory NIN-SIM linkage exercise began in December 2020 when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.
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Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline a few times; April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details. This deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. 
The NCC said that “despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs”. 
<h4 id="protest-breaks-out-in-osogbo" class="wp-block-heading">Protest breaks out in Osogbo</h4> 
Recall that earlier today, a <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/07/29/mtn-office-protest-nin-sim-linkage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protest broke out</a> at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mtn.ng/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MTN</a>&nbsp;office in Osogbo, the Osun state capital following the telecommunication company’s decision to block sim cards that are yet to link their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to their sim cards. 
In a video making the rounds on social media, a large group of people can be seen setting up blockades in front of the MTN office, preventing commuters from passing through. 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="415" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MTN-office.jpg" alt="Protest breaks out as Nigerians besiege MTN offices nationwide over NIN-SIM linkage" class="wp-image-234066">
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 MTN offices
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The protesters can be heard lampooning the company for blocking their cards, insisting that they weren’t even given any kind of warning or message to that effect. 
“The protest has started. There is no road here anymore so anybody coming should be going back. How can they block our lines without any warning or message? We have started the protest and we will remain here with them,” protesters who are already turning back oncoming vehicles could be heard saying in the local Yoruba dialect. 
Following the mass blocking of MTN lines, concerned Nigerians, on Monday, trooped out to MTN offices in their numbers in a bid to unblock their lines. Many are also taking swipes at the company for mass blocking lines without warning and demanding an immediate restoration of service. 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i.jpeg" alt="NIN-SIM linkage: NCC says telcos will not unblock SIMs that are not linked" class="wp-image-140646" width="510" height="510" srcset="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i.jpeg 680w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-80x80.jpeg 80w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-110x110.jpeg 110w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-380x380.jpeg 380w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-550x550.jpeg 550w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-160x160.jpeg 160w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-220x220.jpeg 220w, https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NIN-SIM-i-600x600.jpeg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px">
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 Many users say they have linked their NIN
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The situation is the same across cities including Ibadan, Sango-Otta and others. In some MTN offices, long queues have been formed as people wait to be attended to. Many people also believe this is a plot to distract Nigerians from the impending #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to start on August 1 and to limit their reach. 
<h4 id="subscribers-groan-as-networks-bar-lines-over-the-weekend" class="wp-block-heading">Subscribers groan as networks bar lines over the weekend</h4> 
Recall that numerous subscribers took to social media to decry the telecom’s decision to bar their telephone lines over NIN-SIM linkage without prior warning over the weekend. Many users of the MTN especially detailed how they woke up to the reality that they could not make or receive telephone calls or access the Internet. 
An affected subscriber, Shina, informed Technext that he became aware of his line’s status when he tried to make a telephone call early in the day: “I just heard a voice prompt that informed me that my line has been barred because I failed to link my NIN to my line. It also told me to visit the nearest MTN shop to reconnect my line”, the source added. 
This reflects the experience of many other subscribers who have taken particularly to social media platform, X to complain. Many users indicated that they noticed the action in the early hours of this morning. Most of them claimed that they had completed the linkage exercise in the past with pieces of evidence. 
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1.png" alt="Subscribers groan as MTN allegedly bar lines over NIN-SIM linkage" class="wp-image-234035" width="593" height="703">
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The NCC explained the cause of the deactivation: “Subscribers/consumers could not 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 telecom service providers blocked their numbers in keeping with the laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.” 
Some subscribers alleged (maybe hoping) that this is possibly a technical hitch from the network provider’s system that will fixed anytime soon.&nbsp;“I believe that is a temporary issue that will be fixed soon”, Judy A said on X. 
On the contrary, some subscribers are suggesting that this might be the cause for a switch to another network service provider.&nbsp;“Seeing My MTN trending with complaints of users that they have been barred/blocked. For whatever reason it could be, It is their loss”,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/_realkingsley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_realkingsley</a>&nbsp;said on X.

NIN-SIM verification: NCC orders immediate reactivation of affected lines

Technext.ng

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