The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Monday clarified why previously connected SIM cards to subscribers’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) were blocked by mobile network operators (MNOs).
The commission’s Director, Public Affairs Department, Reuben Muoka, who made this clarification when he featured on Channels Television’s Morning Brief Programme, explained that subscribers whose NINs were not properly verified or cleared had their SIM cards barred because the initial information provided was inadequate.
The spokesman cited the issues of discrepancies in personal details and data mismatch as major reasons for the blockage of the lines
Muoka, who pointed out that many subscribers’ NINs were still pending verification by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) advised such individuals to visit their service providers’ outlets to validate their NINs and address any discrepancies.
According to him, while many subscribers had their NINs linked to their SIM cards in the past blocked , there is need for such affected subscribers to physically visit their service providers’ officers for verification, with hopes for a virtual verification process in the future.
With the commission preparing to audit the blocked phone lines before the end of the week, Muoka acknowledged the challenges being faced in determining the exact number of affected subscribers.
It would be recalled that the NCC had directed telecom service providers to block subscribers who had not linked their phone numbers to their NIN by February 28, and the order affected millions of subscribers, prompting the commission to review the process of verification and closure.
In view of the inconveniences caused subscribers by the recent blockage of their SIMs, the NCC has expressed its plan to streamline the verification process for subscribers in the future.
