The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella group of mobile network operators in the country, has alerted the general public, particularly telecom subscribers, of a temporary disruption of SIM-related services across all mobile networks in Nigeria.
The association, in a joint statement signed by its Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and Publicity Secretary, Barr. Damian Udeh, attributed the temporary disruption of the services to the directive by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), mandating all MNOs to transit to a new identity verification platform.
The group stated: “This disruption follows a recent directive from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), mandating our Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) members to transition to a new identity verification platform. The migration process, which directly impacts real-time identity verification required for SIM registration, SIM replacement, Mobile Number Portability (MNP), and other related services, has introduced unforeseen technical challenges that are currently affecting service availability nationwide.
“While the new platform is intended to enhance the integrity and efficiency of identity management in Nigeria, unfortunately, the transition has temporarily impacted the ability of MNOs to deliver seamless SIM-related services.
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“During this period, MNOs will not be able to support, SIM Swap, SIM replacement, activation of new subscribers and other SIM-related services.
“As responsible operators, ALTON and its member companies remain fully committed to regulatory compliance and are working closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and other relevant authorities to resolve the integration issues as quickly as possible.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause to millions of subscribers who depend on these services for communication, business, and daily activities. We sincerely apologize for the disruption and kindly advise subscribers to postpone visits to service centers for SIM related transactions until further notice.
“ALTON will continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolves and remains committed to ensuring the delivery of secure, reliable, and high-quality telecommunications services to all Nigerians.
“We appreciate the patience, understanding, and continued support of the Nigerian public during this period”, it assured.
