NCC orders service providers to unblock all blocked phone lines with immediate effect 

….irate customers vent their  anger on MTN in FESTAC, Lagos 

By allcitynews.ng 

Barely few hours after many people had stormed network providers over alleged order from Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to block all phone lines not linked with National Identification Number (NIN), the leadership of NCC has knocked the service providers for blocking phone lines of people.

Even as MTN is counting the loss it incurred when the fence of its FESTAC office was pulled down and the office was allegedly vandalised by customers.

NCC has ordered the service providers to immediately reactivate all the lines they had blocked over the inability to link such lines with NIN-SIM verification.

The directive was contained in a statement, on Monday, 29 July 2024 by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.

Many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines over the weekend as their lines were blocked by the telecom operators.

The problem was linked to the inability of many telecom consumers to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).

“This meant that their numbers were blocked by their telecom service providers in keeping with laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.

“Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM which began in December 2020.

“This was when the Federal Government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.

“Since December 2023, the Commission has since reviewed the deadline a couple of times.

“April 15, 2024 was set as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.

“This deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified.

“Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs”, NCC stated in the statement.

The Commission explained that objectives of the exercise by the government included enhancing national security and ensuring that the national SIM ownership database is accurate.

“The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities. It also provides a critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.

“The consumer is our priority. Therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend.

“This was in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs,” it was stated in the statement.

The NCC however urged the reactivated consumers to note that the exercise was for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.

“Members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines,” NCC added.

Meanwhile, the MTN FESTAC outlet on Monday 29 July 2024 witnessed reactions from angry customers when they were not able to use their lines.

According to Vanguard Newspaper, “the FESTAC Lagos outlet of mobile network operator, MTN is currently counting its loses over alleged sim blockade.”

This was after a mob descended on it, vandalising property, sending fears all around.

Reports have attributed the attack, to anger over blocked sim cards which has made many people unable to communicate with their phones.

There have been several complaints from individuals who have experienced the blockade in other parts of the state and it is believed this may have triggered the attack on the MTN outlet. 

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