MTN Nigeria recently suspended its nationwide operations in response to extensive customer backlash and incidents of vandalism.
This was triggered by the disconnection of customers who had not linked their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers. However, the company has now resumed its operations across the country.
Following the temporary closure, MTN announced the reopening of its physical shops to customers from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Additionally, the company assured customers of round-the-clock support through digital channels.
The disruption arose from the failure of many subscribers to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their SIMs, resulting in the blockage of their phone lines as per NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
Numerous subscribers protested at telecom offices, prompting the Nigerian Communications Commission to instruct telecommunications operators to restore all affected lines.
The NIN-SIM linkage, introduced in December 2020, aimed to bolster the country’s security and ensure an accurate database of SIM ownership. Despite multiple deadline extensions, a considerable number of phone lines still lack verified NINs.
Since December 2023, the Commission has revised the deadline several times. Initially, the deadline for full network compliance was set for April 15, 2024, with exemptions for subscribers with four or fewer unverified NIN-linked SIMs. This was later extended to July 31, 2024, to allow additional time for NIN verification. Nonetheless, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.