Nigerians are rushing to telecom stores as the July 31 SIM-NIN linkage deadline nears, causing widespread line barring. Major network operators have provided steps to unblock lines, with an emphasis on resolving issues both online and in-store.
In response to the Nigerian Communications Commission's (NCC) upcoming July 31 deadline for SIM-NIN linkage, Nigerians have flooded telecommunication stores nationwide following the sudden barring of unlinked lines. The deadline mandates that all mobile lines be linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN), causing significant disruption for many users whose lines were blocked due to mismatches between SIM and NIN records.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) advised affected customers to contact their service providers for resolution. To address the issue, major network operators have outlined specific steps for unblocking lines:
- Airtel: Dial *121# and enter your eleven-digit NIN number to receive a confirmation message of successful unblocking.
- EMTS (9Mobile): Dial 2008#.
- Glo: Dial 109 followed by your NIN number (e.g., 10912345678901#) and follow the prompts.
- MTN: Visit nin.mtn.ng to verify and link your NIN, providing an OTP during the process.
- Smile: Send your NIN to [email protected] or call 07020444444, providing consent for verification.
- Spectranet: Call 8002345678, or email [email protected] with your NIN. Complete KYC at a Spectranet store.
- Ntel: Visit any Ntel store with your NIN for KYC verification and line unblocking.
Reactions on social media capture the frustration of many Nigerians, with visuals of long queues at telecom service centers. As the deadline approaches, both customers and service providers are working to ensure compliance with the new regulatory requirements.
