The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed telecommunications operators to promptly restore all phone lines that were blocked due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers (NINs) to SIM cards.
Reuben Muoka, the Director of Media and Public Affairs, announced this development on Monday, July 29.
There has been public frustration regarding the NCC’s actions, with many Nigerians perceiving these as obstacles to the planned protest in August.
In a statement issued by the NCC, Muoka explained that numerous telecom subscribers were unable to access their phone lines because they had not yet linked their NINs with their SIM cards.
The statement noted, “Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers were unable to access their phone lines due to their inability to verify their NINs with their SIMs. This resulted in their numbers being blocked by their telecom service providers in accordance with the NIN-SIM linkage laws and policies.”
The statement further recalled the mandatory NIN-SIM linkage that began in December 2020, when the government mandated telecommunication companies to block unregistered SIM cards and those not linked to NINs.
Muoka continued, “Since December 2023, the Commission has extended the deadline several times. April 15, 2024, was initially set as the deadline for barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details. This deadline was later extended to July 31, 2024, to provide consumers with more time to verify their NIN details. Despite these extensions, many phone lines remain unlinked with verified NINs.”
The NCC emphasized that the purpose of this policy is to enhance national security and ensure the accuracy of the national SIM ownership database. The NIN-SIM linkage aims to verify and safeguard user identities, while supporting the development of a robust digital economy.
“Consumer welfare is our priority. Given the challenges caused by the blockages, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines disconnected over the weekend. This reactivation is temporary, allowing consumers to properly link their NINs to their SIMs,” Muoka said. “We urge the public to complete their SIM verification as soon as possible to retain access to their phone lines.”
