ALTON Warns 30 Million Nigerian Phone Lines at Risk of Disconnection Over NIN Linkage

The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has warned that over 30 million phone lines across the country are at risk of being disconnected due to improper linkage with a National Identification Number (NIN).

ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed this information during an interview on News Central on Thursday, highlighting the widespread impact this could have on various digital devices.

Adebayo noted that the affected SIM cards are used in a range of devices, including car trackers, MiFi units, WiFi devices, and Point of Sale (POS) machines. “The numbers are staggering,” Adebayo stated. “We are looking at potentially over 30 million SIM cards, including those in various digital devices, that have not been properly linked to the NIN.”

This revelation follows recent confusion caused by the temporary unblocking of lines that had not been connected to their NINs.

Telecom operators began barring phone lines not linked with NINs days before the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) July 31, 2024, deadline.

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 Since February 2024, telecom operators have been gradually disconnecting phone lines in compliance with an NCC directive, with the process set to conclude by the end of July.

Last weekend, at least three million phone lines were initially blocked before the NCC instructed telecom operators to restore the disconnected lines.

Adebayo explained that these disconnections were due to discrepancies between the records held by telecom operators and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

“There are instances where individuals provided their NINs, but the information did not match our records,” he said, urging subscribers to visit service centers to resolve these discrepancies.

Adebayo also clarified that the timing of the disconnections coincided with nationwide protests, but emphasized that the action was unrelated to the demonstrations.

“Unfortunately, the disconnection coincided with the planned protests, but it had nothing to do with stifling communication,” he noted. “We are guided by our social contract with subscribers and provide services on a non-discriminatory basis.”

He stressed the importance of accurate data for building a reliable national database, urging individuals to provide truthful and consistent information during the registration process to avoid future complications.

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 “To have a reliable and equipped national database, all of us must contribute accurate information,” Adebayo said. “This database can only be as reliable as the information provided by the public.”

In response to the disruptions caused by the disconnections, Adebayo mentioned that the NCC has directed all operators to reactivate the lines that were disconnected over the weekend.

This reactivation gives consumers a limited period to properly link their NIN to their SIM cards.

“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,” Adebayo stated.

“Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.”