Nigerian Communications Commission Orders Immediate Reactivation of Affected Phone Lines Amid NIN-SIM Verification Issues
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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed MTN Nigeria and other telecommunications companies to immediately reactivate phone lines that were deactivated due to issues with the National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) verification process.
Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, issued a statement on Monday noting that over the weekend, many telecom subscribers were unable to use their phone lines because they had not verified their NINs with their SIMs. As a result, telecom service providers had blocked these lines in accordance with the NIN-SIM linkage laws and policies.
Muoka explained that the mandatory linkage of NIN with SIM cards began in December 2020, following a government directive to telecommunications companies to deactivate unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.
Since December 2023, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has adjusted the deadline several times for the full network barring of subscribers who have four or fewer SIMs with unverified National Identification Numbers (NIN) details. Initially, April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for this action. However, recognizing the challenges faced by consumers, the deadline was extended to July 31, 2024, to allow more time for individuals to verify their NIN details properly.
Despite these extensions, many phone lines still remain unlinked to verified NINs, leading to ongoing issues with service interruptions for affected subscribers.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has implemented the NIN-SIM linkage policy with the objectives of enhancing national security and ensuring accuracy in the national SIM ownership database. This policy aims to verify and protect users’ identities, thereby facilitating a robust digital economy accessible to all citizens.
Acknowledging the challenges caused by recent blockages of phone lines due to unverified NIN-SIM linkages, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all telecom operators to immediately reactivate affected lines. This reactivation is temporary and aims to provide subscribers with a limited period to complete the necessary verification of their NIN with their SIM cards.
Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, emphasized the importance of consumers promptly verifying their SIM cards with their NINs to maintain uninterrupted access to their phone lines.
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