- The commission said the federal government aims to enhance national security and accurate SIM ownership data.
- The NCC said NIN-SIM linkage policy protects users’ identities and enhances digital economy access.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed telecommunications operators to restore service to millions of mobile phone lines that were deactivated due to the mandatory linking of National Identification Numbers (NINs) with Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).
Recently, numerous subscribers experienced disruptions to their phone services as telecom companies enforced the NIN-SIM synchronization policy, resulting in the blocking of unverified lines.
This move affected millions of mobile phone users who had yet to complete the verification process, leading to involuntary disconnections from their network providers.
The NCC’s directive aims to address the widespread inconvenience caused by the sudden blocking of phone lines, ensuring that affected subscribers can regain access to their mobile services.
A check at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) office in Ikeja, Lagos and some telecommunications companies customer service centers on Monday, showed that many subscribers in large numbers visited the service centers to rectify the issues with their linkage or to link their NIN to their SIMs.
However, in a press statement made available on Monday afternoon, and signed by the director, Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Muoka, the regulatory Commission said consumer is its priority, while directing 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.
The press statement partly read: “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 Commission, therefore, tasked members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their phone lines.