*NCC Orders Immediate Reactivation of Phone Lines Amid NIN-SIM Verification Chaos*
In a surprise move, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecom operators to immediately restore phone lines that were disconnected due to unverified National Identification Numbers (NINs) linked to Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).
The decision comes after a chaotic weekend that saw many telecom subscribers unable to access their phone lines due to the inability to verify their NINs with their SIMs. The disconnections were made in compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage policy, which began in December 2020.
Despite repeated extensions, many phone lines remained unverified, leading to widespread disruptions. The NCC, acknowledging the challenges faced by consumers, has now ordered a temporary reprieve.
“The consumer is our priority,” said Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at the NCC. “We understand the difficulties caused by the disconnections, and this temporary reactivation will allow consumers to properly link their NINs to their SIMs.”
The NCC emphasized that the NIN-SIM linkage policy is crucial for enhancing national security and ensuring an accurate national SIM ownership database. Consumers are urged to take advantage of the temporary reactivation to verify their NINs.