The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced the blockage of over 40 million telephone lines for failure to link to the National Identity Numbers (NIN)
The NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka confirmed, in a statement, that the telephone lines barred by their telecommunication operators have breached the February 28, 2024 deadline issued by the commission, mandating telecom customers to link their Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to their NIN.
“If the barred lines are not acted upon in the next 180 days, they won’t be able to receive calls but will only be able to text and make calls. But after the stipulated days, they would be barred from making calls too. “And might forfeit their lines to their respective service provider within 365 days.
“The people whose lines are barred need to enroll for their NIN if they don’t have one at any of the registered centers. They can then take the number to their network providers to get their numbers restored.
“The implication of not verifying their numbers will have them forfeited.”
The NCC spokesman said that the retrieval of lines is only done by the network providers who are saddled with the responsibility.
He said that whoever links SIM that is used to perpetrate evil or crime will be called to answer for it as their identity is will be traced as the perpetrator.
He therefore warned against such acts even as he asked Nigerians to link their NIN before the lines are forfeited.
In a December 2023 notice, the NCC had asked telcos to bar SIMs that had not been linked to their owners’ NINs by February 28, 2024.
Meanwhile, Muoka ruled out an extension of the deadline, warning that telcos that failed to enforce the deadline would be sanctioned.
Source: The PUNCH.
