NEWS
NIN-SIM linkage: Subscribers Complain of Barred phone Lines
Some telecommunications subscribers on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the barring of their lines by telcos, despite having linked their National Identification Number (NIN) with their SIM cards.
The subscribers expressed their displeasure in separate interviews in Lagos.
Reports says that telecommunications (Telcos) operators in Nigeria, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom among others, had been directed by their regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to implement full network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers had not submitted their NINs and those without verified NINs by February 28, 2024.
The NCC said further that NINs that had been submitted but not verified, such lines were to be barred on or before March 29, 2024, same as in cases where five or more lines are linked to an unverified NIN.
Similarly, where less than five lines are linked to an unverified NIN, such lines are to be barred on or before April 15, 2024.
In a visit by NAN in Lagos on Tuesday evening to some of the telcos customer service centres, there were subscribers complaining about barred lines at all the telcos outlets, but more at the MTN outlets.
The subscribers were displeased that their lines had been barred from making calls even before the Feb. 28 deadline.
Some of them insisted that they had already linked their NINs to their SIM cards as directed by the NCC, so were surprised that their lines were still barred.
A Businessman, Mr Marcel Okoh, said that a message was sent to his MTN line at the weekend which he did not take serious, because he had done his NIN-SIM linkage.
Okoh said that two days after the message was sent, he noticed that his SIM had been disconnected and could no longer recharge or make calls with his phone.
“The disconnection is uncalled for because I have done the needful and I should have been given time to make enquiries.
Similarly, a Fashion Designer, Aisha Alao, who also uses an MTN line, said that she was disconnected by the telco without any notice.
Alao said that it was when she got to one of the MTN outlets that the agents explained to her that she needed to do a NIN-SIM linkage.
Also speaking newsmen, a Retired Teacher, Mrs Veronica Maduabunechukwu, said that a disconnection notice was sent to her by Airtel, despite having done her NIN-SIM linkage.
“The line has not been disconnected and I see no reason why it should be barred.
Another MTN subscriber, Mrs Chinenye Agbanusi, said that she had done her NIN-SIM linkage as far back as 2020.
Agbanusi said that she was not pleased with MTN for barring her line after following due process.
She added that the telco should upgrade its systems, to avoid recurring issues of barring customers that had already done the needful.
A Globacom subscriber, Miss Kanyinsola Oje, said that a notice to link her SIM to NIN to avoid disconnection was also sent to her.
She noted that some days after the notice, her line was barred.
However, during the survey, Miss Nkechi, an Agent in one of the Airtel outlets in Ketu, said that subscribers had been coming to the centre to make complaints about their SIM being disconnected.
Similarly, Olumide, a Globacom Agent in Ketu, also confirmed that subscribers had been coming to the outlet to make complaints about their lines being barred since December 2023.
According to him, most of the subscribers insisted that they had done the NIN-SIM linkage before, but were currently having issues.
Olumide said: “the reason for the disconnection could be that the name the subscriber used in registering for their NIN is different from what they used to register their SIM.
“Another issue could be that the line was reassigned to another subscriber, so the name on the SIM could still be the name of the previous owner.
Reacting to the subscribers’ complaints, Mr Funsho Aina, the Senior Manager, External relations, MTN, said that most of the lines that were barred was because no data were found on the lines.
Aina said that it was possible that these subscribers had done the NIN-SIM linkage, but the data filed for NIN might not be the same as what they registered for their SIM.
He said that a discrepancy in data filed for NIN and for SIM could affect its collation.
“Take for instance, I register my SIM with Funsho, and in registering for the NIN I use Olufunsho, which is also my name.
“Even if I do the NIN-SIM linkage, in collating by the telco, the technology might not be able to link the names to one person and the line would be disconnected until the discrepancy is corrected,” he said.
Aina, however, said in order to correct such discrepancies and be reconnected, there were self-help steps that could be taken.
He urged subscribers to go to the portal: https://nin.mtn.ng/nin, to create a Virtual NIN (VNIN).
“You can also dial *996*3# on your mobile phone.
“Select option three for Virtual NIN, Enter your NIN to proceed, then enter ‘109071’ as your Enterprise ID.
“Or alternatively, dial *346*3*your 11 digit NIN*109071# to create a VNIN, ” Aina said.
The MTN official also explained that it seemed as if MTN subscribers were more affected, because MTN had a large number of subscribers than the other telcos. (NAN)
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
It was a celebration of infrastructure and loyalty recently as residents of Okpe Community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State marched through the streets of Kokori in a colorful procession to express appreciation to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the successful completion of the long-abandoned Okpe Street construction project.
The jubilant crowd—comprising elders, women and youths from the six polling units of the community—converged at the private residence of the Director General of the Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, who was instrumental in initiating and overseeing the project.Addressing the crowd, Dr. Oghenesivbe expressed gratitude for the show of appreciation, describing the visit as a heartwarming birthday gift, as it coincided with his birth anniversary.“I am very happy today, being my birth anniversary, that you deemed it necessary to appreciate our working governor, my leader and boss, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for a job well done,” Oghenesivbe said. “I will convey your appreciation to His Excellency and also present your gift to him.”He revealed that the project, along with that of Agbonmiyeri Street, was initiated during the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2022, after his personal appeal.Governor Oborevwori, he said, ensured prompt release of funds and tasked the Ministry of Works (Rural), led by Commissioner Charles Aniagwu, to ensure quality execution.Oghenesivbe lauded both Governor Oborevwori and his predecessor for prioritizing infrastructural development in the state, urging eligible voters across Delta to rally behind the duo of Oborevwori and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.The joyous celebration also featured singing, dancing, and the presentation of a giant 4×6 glassed photo of Governor Oborevwori to Dr. Oghenesivbe, who received it on the governor’s behalf.Councillor representing Ward 12, Hon. Oghoghorie Vwede described the road’s completion as a long-awaited breakthrough.He praised Oghenesivbe for his relentless efforts in ensuring the project’s realization and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to political support in upcoming elections.“Okpe Street had been neglected for centuries, but today we are celebrating its transformation. We are proud of Dr. Oghenesivbe, a true son of the soil, and we are ready to reciprocate this gesture by voting en masse for Tinubu and Oborevwori in 2027,” Vwede said.With over 4,000 registered voters, Okpe Community has now publicly pledged its allegiance to the ongoing leadership in the state and the nation, turning a completed road project into a political statement of loyalty and gratitude.
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
A mild confrontation broke out yesterday morning between protesting Itsekiri youths and some Ijaw youths at the NPA Miller Waterside area of Warri, Delta State, amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ward and unit delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:45AM, saw tensions flare when the Itsekiri youths, who were peacefully protesting across designated streets in Warri, were reportedly attacked with stones by a group of Ijaw youths around the NPA Miller axis. Security operatives, including personnel of the Nigerian Army, swiftly intervened to prevent further escalation. Military patrols have since been intensified around NPA Miller and the Ekurede Itsekiri/Ugbori end to maintain peace and order in the area.The protest by the Itsekiri youths is linked to allegations of bias and perceived irregularities in INEC’s recent ward delineation exercise, which they claim may disenfranchise their ethnic group within the Warri Federal Constituency.Meanwhile, in a bid to de-escalate tensions and foster dialogue, a high-level stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives of the Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Urhobo ethnic groups has been convened in Abuja. The meeting, spearheaded by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is expected to commence at 12 noon Monday.The gathering aims to address the deepening ethnic concerns and maintain peace in the oil-rich and ethnically diverse Warri Federal Constituency.As the situation unfolds, security agencies remain on high alert, while local leaders and community stakeholders continue to call for restraint, tolerance, and a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
Panic and despair have gripped residents of Akugbene Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State following a devastating coastal erosion and landslide incident that left many homes, farmlands, fish ponds, canoes and a major jetty destroyed.Several days after the disaster, affected residents are still reeling from the shock and now live in fear of another wave of erosion, which they say could permanently submerge the community.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of Akugbene Community, Cletus Edougha, appealed to government agencies and humanitarian bodies to urgently provide relief materials to residents who have lost both shelter and their means of livelihood.A widow, Suogha Gbawei, tearfully recounted her losses and pleaded with the Delta State and Federal Governments to intervene swiftly. “We have been rendered homeless and hopeless. Everything we depend on to survive has been washed away,” she lamented.While the Member representing Bomadi–Patani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, has mobilized contractors with heavy equipment for temporary remedial work, residents insist that only a lasting solution—such as the construction of a shore wall—can save the community from complete extinction.Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area, Dagidi Andaye, who visited the disaster site for an on-the-spot assessment, confirmed the scale of destruction and emphasized the urgent need for a permanent ecological intervention.“Akugbene is just one of the many riverine communities in Bomadi LGA facing this threat. Ninety percent of our communities are at risk due to persistent coastal erosion,” Andaye said. “For now, the council will provide palliatives and construct temporary shelters for displaced residents.”He urged the Federal and State Governments, as well as relevant interventionist agencies, to partner with the local government in combating the growing ecological challenge.While no lives were lost in the incident, Andaye praised the resilience of the community’s youths who worked tirelessly to protect the remaining portions of the damaged jetty from further destruction.As Akugbene counts its losses and hopes for swift government intervention, the disaster has once again brought to light the urgent need for comprehensive and sustainable environmental protection measures for Delta State’s riverine communities.
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