Several telecom users have expressed frustration as their phone lines were barred by major operators, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, despite completing the NIN-SIM linkage process.
As gathered by Quest Times, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) mandated full network barring for lines without NINs or unverified ones by February 28, 2024.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday evening, subscribers voiced their displeasure, citing disconnections even before the deadline.
Marcel Okoh, a businessman, expressed frustration, stating, “The disconnection is uncalled for because I have done what is needed, and I should have been given time to make enquiries.”
A similar sentiment was shared by Aisha Alao, a Fashion Designer, who claimed her MTN line was cut off without prior notice.
Others, like Mrs. Veronica Maduabunechukwu and Mrs. Chinenye Agbanusi, reported disconnection notices from Airtel and MTN, respectively, despite completing the NIN-SIM process.
Furthermore, Miss Kanyinsola Oje, a Globacom subscriber, received a notice to link her SIM to NIN; however, her line was barred shortly afterward.
Customer service centres for telcos, especially MTN, witnessed a surge in complaints from subscribers facing connectivity issues.
Agents from Airtel and Globacom, in reaction, confirmed the influx of complaints, attributing some disconnections to discrepancies in names during NIN-SIM linkage.
Telco representatives acknowledged the challenges, with Mr. Funsho Aina from MTN explaining that discrepancies in data between NIN and SIM registration could lead to disconnections.
“Take, for instance, I register my SIM with Funsho, and in registering for the NIN, I use Olufunsho, which is also my name.
“Even if I do the NIN-SIM linkage, in collating by the telco, the technology might not be able to link the names to one person and the line would be disconnected until the discrepancy is corrected,” he explained.
To address these issues, MTN has encouraged affected subscribers to create a Virtual NIN (VNIN) via the portal nin.mtn.ng/nin or by dialing 9963# on their phones.
Aina also emphasized the importance of ensuring data consistency between NIN and SIM registration to avoid disruptions.
Despite subscriber dissatisfaction, telcos have argued that these measures are necessary for maintaining accurate and secure user data, urging individuals to take self-help steps to rectify discrepancies and restore connectivity.