Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, MTN, has reopened its doors nationwide after a brief but tumultuous shutdown. The company’s temporary closure came in the wake of widespread customer unrest and vandalism, triggered by the disconnection of subscribers who had not linked their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NINs).
On Wednesday, MTN took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce its return to business. The company confirmed that its physical outlets would be operational from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, while also emphasizing its 24/7 availability through digital channels.
The crisis erupted over the weekend when numerous subscribers discovered their phone lines had been blocked due to non-compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations. This led to chaotic scenes at telecom offices on Monday, as thousands of frustrated customers sought to resolve their connectivity issues.
In response to the escalating situation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) intervened, directing all telecommunications operators to immediately restore affected lines. The NCC’s directive, communicated through its Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, aimed to address the widespread disruption and public outcry.
The NIN-SIM linkage initiative, launched in December 2020, was designed to enhance national security and create an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite multiple deadline extensions, including the most recent push to July 31, 2024, a significant number of lines remain unverified.
The NCC has repeatedly revised the compliance timeline since December 2023. Initially setting April 15, 2024, as the cut-off date for full network compliance, the Commission later extended this to July 31, 2024, to allow consumers more time to verify their NIN details.
As MTN resumes operations, the incident highlights the ongoing challenges in implementing the NIN-SIM linkage policy and the delicate balance between national security measures and customer convenience in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.