The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated the immediate reactivation of all SIM cards blocked by telecommunications companies due to the non-linkage of National Identification Numbers (NINs).
This directive was announced in a press statement by Reuben Muoka, the NCC Director of Media and Public Affairs.
On Sunday, thousands of Nigerians found their SIM cards barred by MTN management, which stated that affected subscribers had not linked their NINs with their SIM cards.
The disconnection follows ongoing regulatory pressure on telecom companies to enforce the NIN-linkage policy introduced in December 2020.
In February 2024, the NCC instructed telecom operators to block subscribers who failed to link their phone numbers to their NINs by February 28, 2024.
The deadline was later extended to April 15, 2024, and subsequently to July 31, 2024.
