On Sunday, MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecommunications operator, barred the lines of thousands of subscribers who had yet to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their SIM cards. This action came just three days before the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) July 31, 2024 deadline.
Background and Immediate Impact
MTN Nigeria initiated the blocking of non-compliant SIMs in December 2023, sources familiar with the matter disclosed. Despite this early start, many users reported their SIMs were blocked on Sunday, despite having submitted their NINs.
One long-time MTN user expressed frustration: “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?” Another customer identified a possible issue: “The name on the SIM registration is different from the one on the NIN. So I need to go and update it.”
Telcos and Regulatory Compliance
The disconnections are part of a broader regulatory effort by the Nigerian government to ensure all phone numbers are linked to a NIN. This policy, introduced in December 2020, aims to improve national security and curb fraudulent activities. The NCC has extended the deadline multiple times, with the final extension set for July 31, 2024.
In response to the recent blocks, telco operators have provided instructions for affected customers to reconnect their lines. Airtel, Glo, MTN, Smile, Spectranet, and Ntel have each communicated specific steps for users to follow to update their NIN details and restore service.
Industry Reactions
Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), refuted claims that the SIM bans were linked to recent calls for protest. “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 stated.
MTN Nigeria’s Compliance Efforts
MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, highlighted the company’s extensive compliance efforts. In March 2024, he revealed that MTN had barred 8.6 million subscribers as per the NCC directive. Although many lines were later reactivated, MTN still experienced 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 explained.
Conclusion
As the July 31 deadline looms, MTN Nigeria and other telcos continue to navigate the challenges of enforcing the NIN-SIM linkage policy. While the regulatory mandate aims to bolster national security, the implementation has caused significant disruption for many users. Both telcos and subscribers are working to resolve outstanding issues to ensure compliance and restore se