*Sim Barring No Connection With Planned August 1, Protest, Could Be Coincidental- ALTON
Thousands of people have stormed telecommunication stores across Nigeria after MTN, Glo, Airtel, and others began barring following lines not linked with a National Identification Number (NIN) over the weekend.
Some Nigerians have observed in the last few days that their lines have been barred, especially on the MTN network.
This is even as most of them confirmed their linkage with NIN, suspecting ulterior motive behind the action.
Some of them have accused the Telecoms of allowing themselves to be used by government to frustrate innocent citizens alleging that the action might be connected with the proposed protest slated for Thursday.
However, some of them confirmed linkage by sharing screenshots of earlier SIM-NIN success messages.
“I had to go to their office after church. It’s not yet rectified. I just got home. I can only call and receive on WhatsApp using wifi,” Nike Benson, an affected subscriber said. “They said the name on the SIM is Hellen Ajibade, but I don’t know the person. I have been using the number for over 20 years.”
“I just heard a voice prompt that informed me that my line has been barred because I failed to link my NIN to my line. It also told me to visit the nearest MTN shop to reconnect my line”, another subscriber who identified himself as Shina said.
Since Saturday, tweets about barred lines have circulated. @obasagodwin tweeted, “@MTNNG, how many times do I have to link my NIN with my line?”
@Ada_Daddyya, “Why in heaven’s name is MTN blocking my lines even after I’ve registered my Nin? What is wrong with that company?”
@Emedymessi, “My MTN line was just barred this morning. As in my own precious line that I’ve been using for more than 10 years now. I’ve linked my NIN more than how many times, but they keep sending me messages to link it again.”
@The_Barr_OluT, “MTN barred my sim, and on a Sunday. Even after submitting my NIN like 6 times.”
Consequently, on Monday, many Nigerians have besieged telco stores that have yet to open. The MTN store at Bode Thomas in Lagos already has a long queue that has spilled to the sidewalks and beyond the street curb.
Also, the MTN office located at Dada Estate Area in Osogbo, the Osun State capital is currently witnessing an influx of affected subscribers.
Similarly , the MTN and Glob offices located on Allen, Ikeja are currently witnessing an influx of affected subscribers.
Many subscribers have similarly gathered at the MTN office in Abakaliki to get their SIM card unblocked but the staff are nowhere to be found.
Background
In December 2023, the NCC directed all telecommunications operators to undertake full network barring of all SIMs that have failed to submit their National Identity Numbers (NIN) on or before 28 February 2024.
Likewise, customers that have submitted their NINs, but remain unverified were to be barred on 15 April 2024. This deadline was, however, shifted to July 31, 2024.
Furthermore, guidelines were issued whereby no customer can have more than 4 active SIMs and all such excess SIMs must be barred by 29 March 2024.
This directive is part of the ongoing Federal Government NIN-SIM harmonization exercise requiring all subscribers to provide valid NIN information to update SIM registration records.
Telcos say latest SIM barring has no connection with planned August 1 protest
Meanwhile, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has debunked the rumours that the latest barring of SIMs by network operators was an attempt to frustrate the planned protest billed to start August 1.
The ALTON Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday night, noting that it was just coincidental that the barring of lines by telecommunications companies was coming at a time some Nigerians were preparing for a protest.
Over the weekend, many subscribers have had their lines barred by their telcos, even after doing the NIN-SIM linkage.
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This came as some Nigerians, majorly youth groups are planning a nationwide protest from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10, to demand solutions to the rising cost of living and economic hardship in the country.
Although, Metrobusinessnews.com (MBN) gathered that the latest SIM-barring exercise is in line with the directive issued by the Nigerian Communications (NCC) in December last year, ordering telcos to fully bar lines whose linked National Identification Number (NIN) have not been verified by April 15, 2024, they wonder why the action us coming ahead of the July 31, 2024, which is two days away, deadline
What ALTON is saying
Reacting to the rumours spreading on social media that the telecom operators were trying to frustrate the planned protest through the barring of millions of mobile lines, Adebayo said:
“I have received inquiries about this issue. No organisation or association is barring lines because of the proposed protest.
“It is coincidental that the barring of lines is coming at a time a protest is being planned. We have no hand at all in what is going on about the protest.
“Telecommunications companies are service providers and provide service on non-discriminatory. Our hands are clean. Go to your network service provider and your issue will be addressed.”
The ALTON chairman explained that the barring of lines had to do with the NIN verification. Adebayo stressed that its members were obliged to provide uninterrupted service to everybody on a non-discriminatory basis.
Subscriber group reacts
Also reacting to the issue, Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the National President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, said that the barring of lines was not done to frustrate anybody or group.
Ogunbanjo said that there was a recent announcement on the issue but many subscribers did not take heed to it.
“The number of NIN that is not properly done is alarming, and when you ask the affected persons, they will say I went to a kiosk somewhere or something similar to do my NIN registration.
“Many do not use their real names, some go to fake centres to do their NIN registration. The bottom line is that proper registration was not done. I implore everybody to do the needful and go to recognised NIN centres,” he said.