By: Alabi Maryam
“I linked my National Identity Number (NIN) with my over 5-year MTN SIM card, but yet it was barred,” Muhammad Hawua, a 500-level student of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), lamented over her telephone line barred by MTN through Nigerian Telecommunication Companies.
Unlike many other 40 million users whose SIM cards were barred due to the failure of linkage of NIN, Hawau was surprised to find her SIM card barred despite having completed the linkage.
This situation had forced her to spend transport fare, meant for food, to visit the MTN office—only to find out her SIM card details were mismatched with another’s.
“When I reached the (MTN) offices, I laid my complaint to the telecommunications operator, all they told me was that my SIM card was mismatched with someone else’s,” Explained Hawau
“I felt sad when I heard this, after using money meant for my meal on transport fare. I then insisted that it must be rectified, and it was rectified later on that day.”
In late 2020, the Nigerian government introduced the NIN-SIM linkage policy to establish a digital identity system. The aim was to enhance security by addressing issues such as banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes affecting Nigerians.
In 2024, the Nigerian Communication Commission had set several deadlines for NIN sim card linkage —February 28, April 12, and lastly, July 31.
The immediate action of barring the telephone line in late July hit many subscribers of Nigeria’s telephone line, like Muhammad Hawua.
A Case Too Many
Another student, Sulyman Fatima felt disappointed over crucial action taken by the Nigerian Telecommunication Companies.
According to her, her MTN line, critical for her online data vending business, was barred despite having linked her NIN.
“I have been using this SIM card since 2021, and it has been a well-known line by my customers who buy data bundles from me,” she exclaimed.
Speaking further, she narrated that “within five days, I was unable to get my SIM card rectified despite linking my NIN. It is so sad”.
Similarly, Abdul Ganiyu Ganiyat’s weekend was disrupted when her SIM card was barred. She explained that she couldn’t visit the nearest MTN office immediately and had to wait until Monday to address the issue.
“I am a social media addict, I couldn’t be able to turn on my data and have access to my social media handles. It’s so annoying,” she said.
Why some SIM cards were barred despite linkage of NIN – NCC spokesperson
The National Nigerian Communications Commission spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, while on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” program, explained that some SIM cards have verification and identification issues like disparity in information such as names and other data.
“Some lines were barred because the information on the NIN did not tally with the customers’ SIM cards,” he said.