The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has directed telecoms operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend due to failed NIN/SIM verification process.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr Reuben Muoka, explaned that the directive became necessary due to the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs.
The NCC eventually cautioned consumers the grace window is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.
Recalled that 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).
The end result of that action was that mobile phone numbers of customers were blocked by their respective telecom service providers in keeping with laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.
The NCC explained that the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM began in December 2020 when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.
“Since December 2023, the Commission has since reviewed the deadline a few times; April 15, 2024 was set as the deadline for the full network barring of 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. Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs”, the statement said.
According to the statement, the objectives of the NIN-SIM registration was meant to enhance national security and ensure the national SIM ownership database is accurate stressing that the NIN-SIM linkage policy aids the Nigerian Government 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 NCC said: “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.”
The appealed to consumers who are yet to verify their SIMs to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.
