The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunication operators to immediately reconnect all phone lines that were blocked during the National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) verification exercise.
This directive was issued on Monday, July 29, 2024 in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Media and Public Affairs.
The move comes after numerous aggrieved subscribers visited MTN offices across the country on July 29 to express their frustration over the telecom company’s blocking of phone numbers. MTN had barred several telephone lines on Sunday, citing the users’ failure to link their NIN with their mobile phone numbers.
The blocking of lines was in response to the NCC’s directive to disconnect SIM numbers not linked to NINs by July 31, 2024. This deadline had been extended from the initial date of April 15, 2024. The NCC had previously announced on February 29 that 45 million subscribers would be barred if they did not comply with the linkage requirement.
The directive to immediately reactivate the barred lines aims to alleviate the inconvenience faced by subscribers and ensure continuous connectivity.
