Considering the challenges the blockages on line have caused, the Nigeria Communications 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.

Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers and consumers were unable to access their phone lines because of the inability of many telecom consumers to verify their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with their Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).

This according to NCC, meant that their numbers were blocked by their telecom service providers in keeping with laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.

The Commission in a statement issued and signed by its Director of Public Affairs Reuben Mouka stated that Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM which began in December 2020, when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.

It added that Since December 2023, the Commission has since reviewed the deadline a few times, April 15, 2024 was set as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.

NCC noted that the  deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified adding that, despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.

It stated that the objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate. The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users' identities while also providing a critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.

The Commission noted that the reactivation order was premises on the fact that consumer is the priority and having considered 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.

It added that reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.

The Commission enjoined Members of the public who are yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.