THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said there would not be an extension of the February 28 deadline for the linkage of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to National Identification Numbers (NIN).
Reports suggest that about 12 million lines may be affected by the directive after the deadline expiration.
According to the NCC, SIM-NIN linkage is the process of attaching one’s NIN to a phone number to validate the person who registered the SIM card.
Reuben Mouka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, told the Punch Newspaper on Wednesday, February 28, that the Commission issued a public notice stating there would not be an extension to the linkage.
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In a notice dated December 20, 2023, the NCC directed telecommunication companies (telcos) to block SIMs that had yet to be connected to the NINs of their owners by February 28, 2024.
Besides, the NCC requested that by March 29, 2024, Global Satellite Mobile (GSM) Communications companies ban individuals whose NINs have been submitted but not confirmed.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, informed the newspaper that telecom providers would abide by the NCC’s order.
He added that roughly 12 million of the 224 million active lines were at risk of deactivation.
The ICIR reported that the Federal Government in April 2022 directed telecommunications operators to immediately bar outgoing calls from SIM cards not yet linked with the NIN.
The then Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, announced the directive, which was to come into effect on April 4.
The Federal Government had earlier mandated that telecommunications subscribers link their SIMs with their NINs in December 2020.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, February 22, restrained telecom operators from deactivating or barring any line or SIM whose user did not link to the NIN.
Ruling on a restraining order application brought by rights activist Olukoya Ogungbeje on February 22, the judge, Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, prohibited telecom carriers from executing such an action.
Ogungbeje had filed a lawsuit against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Networks Nigeria Limited, the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Justice, and others.
He asked the court for an injunction pending appeal denying all the respondents jointly or severally, whether by themselves, their agents, outlets, agencies, privies, officials, servants, men, parastatals, units, organs, or anybody or person however so called, from taking any step or action capable of enforcing the judgment in any way and from further outright barring, deactivating and or restricting any SIM cards or his phone Lines, or of any Nigerian citizen, slated for February 28, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal at the Court of Appeal, against the court’s judgment delivered on May 8, 2023, by Lewis-Allagoa.
On Wednesday, February 28, it was observed that MTN subscribers experienced glitches on the network. Most subscribers were unable to make calls or use the internet.
Responding to the crisis via X, MTN Nigeria confirmed the glitches on its network and blamed it on multiple fibre cuts.
“Dear Customer, you have been experiencing challenges connecting to the network due to a major service outage caused by multiple fibre cuts, affecting voice and data services.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and ask for your patience and understanding as the team works to restore full service as soon as possible.”
The company assured customers that its engineers were working to fix the issues.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance