–Godwin Orozo
On Sunday, MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecommunications company, barred the lines of thousands of subscribers who had yet to link their National Identification Number (NIN), just three days before the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) July 31, 2024, deadline.
According to two sources familiar with the situation, MTN began blocking non-compliant SIM cards in December 2023. Despite this, many MTN users claimed their SIM cards were blocked on Sunday even though they had linked their NINs.
“I submitted my NIN twice, but my SIM was blocked without prior notice. I have been using this number for over ten years. Where do I start from?” one affected user told TechCabal. Another person with direct knowledge of the issue suggested that possible reasons for the disconnections could include incomplete NIN registration or mismatched SIM registration details.
“The name on the SIM registration is different from the one on the NIN. So I need to go and update it,” one customer explained, noting that MTN had sent multiple notifications before blocking her number.
A spokesperson for MTN did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
The disconnection follows increased pressure from Nigerian regulators on telcos to implement the NIN-linkage policy introduced in December 2020.
In February 2024, the NCC directed telcos to bar subscribers who failed to link their phone numbers to their NIN by February 28, 2024. This deadline was extended to April 15, 2024, and then to July 31, 2024.
Telecom operators have now shared easy steps for affected customers to unblock their lines. Airtel customers can dial *121# and input their eleven-digit NIN number. Glo users can use the code *109*NIN number#.
MTN users should visit nin.mtn.ng to check their NIN status and link it if necessary. Smile customers should send their valid NIN to customercare@smile.com.ng or call 07020444444.
Spectranet customers can call the toll-free line 8002345678 and submit their NIN, but they must complete their KYC at a Spectranet store. Ntel customers should visit any Ntel store with their NIN to update their lines.
Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), addressed allegations that the SIM bans were linked to calls for protest, stating that the telcos were not deliberately barring lines.
“If there is anything, it is the mismatch in NIN-SIM registration and customers who have received messages from operators to come and register and link their SIMs. It is just coincidental it is coming at this point,” he told TechCabal.
In March 2024, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said the company barred 8.6 million subscribers in compliance with the NCC directive. Many of these lines were reactivated, resulting in a reduction of 2 million in total subscribers for Q1 2024.
“We have 8.9 million subscribers going through the verification process, and these subscribers fall within the cohort of less than five SIMs linked to an unverified NIN,” Toriola said.
