The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has directed all telecom companies to immediately restore phone lines affected by the NIN-SIM verification exercise. The move comes after many subscribers were unable to access their phone lines due to difficulties in verifying their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).
In a statement, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, emphasized that the consumer is the priority, and the Commission has taken this step to address the challenges caused by the blockages. Reactivated consumers are advised to link their NIN to their SIM within a limited period to maintain access to their lines.
The NCC reminded consumers that the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM began in December 2020, with multiple deadline extensions, including the latest one on July 31, 2024. Despite these extensions, many phone lines remain unlinked with verified NINs.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy aims to enhance national security, ensure accurate national SIM ownership database, and provide a critical infrastructure for a robust digital economy. However, the exercise has faced challenges, with protests reported in various parts of the country, including Osogbo, Ibadan, and Lagos, due to slow service and frustration among subscribers.