The directive of the federal government to bar the phone lines of subscribers who fail to link their Sim cards with their National Identity Number (NIN) has continued to infuriate subscribers who have been caught in the web of the NIN-SIM linkage struggle.
In December 2020, Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, announced the integration policy of SIM cards into the national identification number (NIN) database.
Meanwhile, a lot of Nigerians who have linked their lines with their sim cards but still have their lines barred have either switched to other networks or bought new sim cards from the same service provider to continue using their service, as observed by Daily News24.
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Danladi Musa, an MTN subscriber said he had to get another sim card because despite linking his line, he still remained barred from making calls. ”I have come to buy another sim card because after linking my NIN with my number, it still remained barred. I have complained but nothing seems to be done. I have decided to buy a new sim card today and link it with my NIN before going home today.
”My younger sister had the same issue and she was told that her line will be active in the next 6months, She had to also buy a new sim card just like I am doing today,” He said.
Mr Bolaji Owollabi complained that despite submitting his NIN to his network providers, two of his phone lines still remain blocked. He said he has been on the NIN-SIM linkage matter for months but his efforts keep yielding no result. ”I have been on this issue for months now and after going to MTN and GLO office I was referred to the NIMC office in Taludu.
”I went there and they told me my Bank Verification Number (BVN)Â has an issue. I was told to come back in the next 7 days.” He stated.Â
The regional regional manager of the NIMC office in Kano said individuals whose lines get blocked usually wait till the dying minute, one which oftentimes complicates issues between them and their service providers.
”If subscribers had earlier gotten their NINs and also provided them to their respective telecommunication operators, the process would have been done seamlessly to avoid a situation where their lines get barred from making calls.
”When subscribers get their NINs from the NIMC, they are to send them to their telecommunication operators and then the verification will be done at our headquarters in Abuja. After the verification is done, then the lines of the users will be unblocked through the various service providers.” He said.
Mr Lawal Yahaya urged subscribers who haven’t linked their NINs with their SIM cards to do so to avoid getting blocked. He also advised the subscribers to ensure that their NINs are uploaded to the NIMC database for seamless service delivery across the country.
”The population of Nigeria is estimated to be about 200 million and we have only registered about 80 million since 2012 which is about one-third of the individuals residing in Nigeria so we still have a long way to go.” He concluded.
