…NCC orders immediate reactivation of all blocked lines
Subscribers of MTN Mobile in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Monday besieged the MTN office to retrieve their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards blocked over the weekend.
Recall that over the weekend, many telecom subscribers were unable to access their phone lines after failing to verify their NINs with their SIM cards, resulting in their numbers being blocked in compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
This development led to massive outrage on Monday as subscribers stormed MTN offices across the country, demanding the reactivation of their blocked phone lines.
It was learnt that those who were allowed into the premises were those who had registered their names since Saturday, while a new list has been provided for those who came on Monday.
Speaking with FACTUAL NEWS NG, at the MTN Connect Office, Dada Estate, Osogbo, one of the affected customers, simply identified as Kazeem, stated that aged and pregnant women were allowed into the premises to sit, waiting for their turn to be called inside the office to lodge their complaints.
In his words, “I was here on Saturday and was only able to write down my name in a list provided. So when I got here today (Monday), they called the list and I was attended to, but old people and pregnant women were allowed to sit on the premises before being called upon.
“When I was allowed inside, I asked why my SIM card was blocked despite linking my NIN earlier, and the lady that attended to me said it was blocked because the information I provided was different from that of my NIN.”
Another subscriber, Esther Adeyemi, said despite coming as early as 5 am, she met hundreds of people at the MTN office.
She said, “I came all the way from Ikirun and got here as early as 5am with the hope that I’ll have my SIM card reactivated in no time, but I’m shocked with the crowd I met here.
“The MTN staff were calling us inside in batches at the beginning up till the time they told us that their system was down and asked us to exercise patience or go and come back later.”
However, the Nigerian Communications Commission has directed telecommunications operators to restore all blocked phone lines due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers to SIM cards, with immediate effect.
This directive was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.
The statement partly reads, “The consumer is our priority; therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend, in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs.”
