The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered telecommunication operators to immediately reconnect all phone lines that were blocked during the NIN-SIM verification exercise.
The NCC gave the directive in a statement on Monday signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.
“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 said.
According to the NCC, it reviewed an April 15, 2024, deadline to July 31, 2024, deadline to give subscribers time to line their SIMs and NINs. It, however, noted that despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.
The NCC did not clarify if this new grace period will extend beyond its July 31, 2024, initial deadline.
Recall aggrieved subscribers had besieged MTN offices across the country on Monday, July 29 to express their frustration and disappointment over the telecom company’s blocking of phone numbers.
MTN had barred the telephone lines of several users on Sunday, allegedly for failing to link their National Identification Numbers (NIN) with their mobile phone numbers.
The decision by MTN and other telecommunications company is in reaction to the directive of the Nigeria Communications Commission to disconnect Subscriber Identity Module numbers (telephone lines) not linked to the National Identification Numbers, which was scheduled to take effect on July 31, 2024.
The latest deadline was extended from April 15, 2024, to July 31. On February 29, NCC said 45 million subscribers would be barred for not implementing the linkage.
