Following a nationwide outage on Tuesday, MTN, the top telecom provider in Nigeria, has resumed nationwide operations.
Due to widespread outcry from customers and vandalism caused by the disconnections of subscribers who neglected to link their SIM cards to their NIDs, a temporary closure was implemented.
MTN confirmed that its physical stores will be open to customers from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm when it announced its return to operations on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
“Y’ello customer, please note that our shops nationwide will be open today, July 31 July. Operating hours: 8 am-3:00 pm. We are also available 24/7 to support you via digital channels,” the operator said.
Due to a lack of NIN-SIM linkage compliance, many subscribers discovered over the weekend that they were unable to access their phone lines. As a result, their numbers were blocked.
Thousands of customers stormed telecom offices on Monday as a result of this blockage, and the Nigerian Communications Commission ordered telecommunications companies to immediately restore all affected lines.
The NCC clarified that the directive was in response to the widespread disruption and subscriber outrage caused by the blockages in a statement signed on Monday by Reuben Muoka, Director of Media and Public Affairs.
In December 2020, the mandatory SIM ownership database and improved national security were the goals of the NIN-to-SIM linkage program. Many lines are still unverified even after multiple deadline extensions, the most recent of which was extended to July 31, 2024.
The Commission has examined the deadline several times since December 2023. Originally, the deadline for the entire network was set for April 15, 2024, excluding subscribers who had four or fewer SIMs and unconfirmed NIN details.
The deadline was then moved to July 31, 2024, to give customers more time to make sure the NIN information they had submitted was accurately validated. Even with these additions, a large number of phone lines have not yet been connected to confirmed NINs.
