The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued an order for the immediate reactivation of cell phone lines that were recently barred by telecommunication companies. This directive, announced on Monday in Abuja by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, comes in response to the challenges faced by many subscribers whose lines were blocked due to unverified National Identification Numbers (NINs) linked with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).
Over the weekend, numerous telecom subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone services, as telecom providers had deactivated their numbers in line with the NIN-SIM linkage policy. This policy, initiated in December 2020, mandates the linkage of NINs with SIM cards to enhance national security and maintain an accurate national database of SIM owners.
The NCC had extended the deadline for this mandatory linkage multiple times, with the latest deadline set for July 31, 2024. Despite these extensions, many phone lines remain unverified.
“The Commission prioritizes consumer welfare and has therefore instructed all operators to reactivate lines that were disconnected over the weekend,” Muoka stated. This reactivation is intended to provide subscribers with a limited window to complete their NIN-SIM verification process. The NCC urges those who have yet to link their NIN to their SIMs to do so promptly to avoid future disruptions in service.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
