MTN Nigeria, one of the country's leading telecommunications providers, has announced the closure of all its offices and service centers nationwide for 24 hours, effective from July 30, 2024. This move follows the recent demolition of its Festac office in Lagos by irate subscribers protesting the disconnection of their telephone lines.
In an official statement posted on its verified X handle, MTN Nigeria explained that the decision to close its offices comes in response to a series of vandalism incidents triggered by the disconnection of customers' lines under the government's NIN-SIM linkage policy. The telecom giant has urged affected customers to utilize digital support channels for assistance during the closure period.
Tensions have escalated dramatically in Lagos State as an angry mob targeted and vandalized the MTN office in Festac Town. This violent outburst was a direct reaction to MTN's recent blocking of subscribers' phone lines due to mismatches between their National Identification Numbers (NIN) and SIM registration details.
Over the weekend, countless telecom subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone lines, having failed to verify their NINs with their SIM cards. This blockage, which complies with NIN-SIM linkage regulations, has led to widespread disruption and frustration among the populace.
In response to the mass disconnection, subscribers across Nigeria have stormed MTN offices, demanding immediate reactivation of their blocked lines. The situation reached a boiling point on Monday, culminating in the vandalism of the Festac office.
In light of the growing unrest, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has intervened, directing all telecommunications operators to restore all blocked phone lines immediately. This directive was announced in a statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.
"The consumer is our priority; therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend, in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs," the NCC stated.
The NIN-SIM linkage initiative, launched in December 2020, aims to bolster national security and create an accurate database of SIM ownership. Despite multiple deadline extensions, the latest being July 31, 2024, many subscribers have yet to complete the verification process.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) clarified that the disconnections were unrelated to any planned protests. They emphasized that the harmonization process, ongoing for several months, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the National SIM registration database.
"Customers who had their lines blocked recently are those whom their service providers found a mismatch between their records on both databases. We advise such customers to contact their service providers through communicated channels for resolution of the issue," ALTON stated.
The NCC highlighted that the reactivation of blocked lines is a temporary measure to allow consumers additional time to verify their NINs with their SIMs. They urged all subscribers to complete this process promptly to avoid future disruptions.
While the situation develops, the NCC and telecom operators are working to address the immediate concerns of subscribers while continuing to prioritize national security and data accuracy. The recent events underscore the need for a more seamless and user-friendly verification process to prevent further unrest.
