By David Torough, Abuja

Telecommunications Operators (telcos) yesterday restored the users’ lines they blocked on Sunday after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) ordered them.

Many Nigerians woke up at the weekend to see that their mobile phone lines were quenched due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers (NIN) to Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

Users who were agitated by the restriction described it as an attempt by NCC to frustrate the planned August protest.

The Director of Media and Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Muoka in a statement yesterday stated, “Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers/consumers 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 compliance with the laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.

“Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM, which 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 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 have yet to be linked with verified NINs.

“The objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate.

“The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while also providing critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.

“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, given 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.

“Members of the public who have yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.”

Meanwhile, the President of National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo has urged telecoms subscribers to always give the right information while registering their SIM cards.

Ogunbanjo who was reacting to the subscribers’ phone lines barred by the telecommunication companies said the order by NCC, directing service providers to reactivate all cell phone lines was commendable, urging subscribers to desist from registering their SIM with wrong information.

He said that many phone lines were barred in the last two to three weeks due to mismatch or different information or details given by the subscribers during registration of SIM and NIN.

“Subscribers are usually giving details that do not match with NIN. When they go to SIM registration centres, many subscribers don’t give correct details at registration centres.

“I have been at centres since last week. Subscribers should give correct information that will tally with their SIM registrations.

“Some of the SIM registration centres just use any photo to register consumers that is why we see discrepancies.

“If your phone line has been barred in the last two to three weeks, it is likely due to a mismatch between the details you gave during your SIM registration and the information linked to your National Identification Number (NIN).”

He advised that subscribers who want to unbar their lines should visit a service provider’s office in person and utilise their self-registration portal.

“As of now, only MTN and Airtel offer self-registration portals, allowing subscribers avoid physically visiting their offices and waiting in the line.”

He said subscribers should visit the links for proper registration: MTN: ninlinking.mtn.ng, Airtel: airtel.com.ng/nin.

Mr Chidi Godwin, an MTN subscriber, expressed delight at the development and commended the NCC for its swift action to resolve the issue.

Godwin said he had been in the MTN office since morning to lay a complain, adding that but with the NCC intervention, he was rest assured that he would have enough time to do his SIM registration and follow the right steps.