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Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has revealed that over 30 million phone lines remain inadequately linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN), putting them at risk of disconnection.
According to Adebayo, this issue predominantly affects SIM cards used in car trackers, MiFi units, WiFi devices, and Point of Sale (POS) machines. “The figures are significant. We are facing a situation where potentially more than 30 million SIM cards, including those embedded in various digital devices, are not properly linked to the NIN. This includes SIMs in car trackers, POS systems, MiFis, WiFis, and other similar devices,” Adebayo stated during a recent interview with News Central, which was monitored by our correspondent.
The announcement comes amid recent disruptions caused by the disconnection of lines not linked to NINs. In the days leading up to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) July 31, 2024 deadline, telecom operators began restricting access to phone lines that were not NIN-compliant.
Since February 2024, telecom operators have been executing a phased disconnection of phone lines as per NCC directives. The regulator had instructed operators to disconnect non-NIN linked lines in three phases, with the final phase concluding on July 31, 2024.
Industry experts disclosed to The PUNCH that initially, three million phone lines were blocked before the NCC directed their reactivation. Adebayo explained that these disconnections were due to inconsistencies between telecom operators’ records and those of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
“There are instances where NINs provided by individuals did not match our records,” Adebayo noted. “Such discrepancies need to be addressed at service centers to ensure accurate verification.”
While the timing of these disconnections overlapped with nationwide protests, Adebayo emphasized that the two events were unrelated, as the disconnections had been scheduled well in advance. “The disconnection coincided with the planned protests, but there was no intent to suppress communication,” he said. “Our actions are guided by our commitment to our subscribers and are conducted on a non-discriminatory basis.”
Adebayo underscored the crucial role of accurate data in maintaining a reliable national database and urged individuals to provide truthful and consistent information during registration. “A dependable national database relies on the accuracy of the information provided by the public,” he said.
In response to the disruptions, Adebayo confirmed that the NCC has instructed operators to temporarily reactivate all lines disconnected over the weekend, allowing users additional time to properly link their NINs to their SIM cards. “We are committed to prioritizing our consumers and will support them through this process to ensure their lines are properly linked,” he added.
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