Telecommunication companies in Nigeria have commenced the final phase of disconnecting Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) numbers not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN).
This disconnection has surprised many subscribers, given the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) extended the deadline to July 31, 2024.
In December 2023, the NCC directed all telecommunications operators to fully bar all SIMs that had not submitted their NIN by February 28.
Additionally, customers who had submitted their NINs but remained unverified were to be barred on April 15.
However, this deadline was extended to July 31. Further guidelines stated that no customer can have more than four active SIMs, and any excess SIMs must be barred, Punch reports.
The sudden disconnection has caused many Nigerians to besiege MTN, GLO, and 9 mobile stores near them in search of solutions.
Chinedu Eze, a trader at the MTN store in the Ikotun area of Lagos, told TimesNow.com.ng that he has been unable to make or receive calls since Saturday, July 27.
Another person, who gave her name as Bimpe, said she has been unable to make calls since Sunday.
Meanwhile, MTN has released a do-it-yourself step for subscribers to unblock their SIMs without visiting its office.
In a post shared on its official X account, MTN said:
TimesNow.com.ng previously reported that Nigerian banks notified their customers of the need to update their bank account information with their Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN).
The banks said the move was in response to the CBN’s circular dated December 1, 2023.
In the circular, the CBN stated clearly that customers must link their bank accounts with their NIN and BVN.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
