Subscribers in Nigeria have expressed their satisfaction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for instructing mobile network operators (MNOs) to reconnect SIM cards that were barred from making and receiving calls.
The National President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), Adeolu Ogunbanjo, praised the NCC for this decision in a phone interview on Monday.
This directive follows a report by Coretvnews that the NCC had ordered MNOs, including MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile, to reconnect consumers whose lines were disconnected over the weekend due to issues with National Identity Number (NIN) and SIM card linkage.
Ogunbanjo highlighted that the NCC’s action demonstrates its responsiveness to the needs of Nigerians and suggests that the disconnections were not related to the upcoming August 1-10 hardship protest.
He commended the NCC for taking this step, noting that it shows the regulator’s commitment to addressing subscriber concerns and ensuring their continued service.
On Monday, many subscribers visited MNO offices and centers after their lines were disconnected over the weekend. This disconnection was part of a mandatory NIN-SIM linkage exercise, initiated in December 2020 to improve security in Nigeria. The deadline for this exercise, previously extended several times, is now set for July 31, 2024.
