NIN-SIM Linkage: Over 72million Unregistered Subscribers Barred, Says ALTON
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has disclosed that more than 72.77 million active subscribers have been blocked from using their sims to make calls, following the directive from the federal government on unlinked NIN-SIMs.
The association made this known in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo and Head of Operations, Mr Gbolahan Awonuga.
ALTON said its members would comply with the Federal Government’s directive.
Adebayo explained ” We can confirm that our members have received formal directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to bar outgoing calls on subscriber lines that are not in compliance with the NIN-SIM Linkage Policy requirement.
He said the policy required that all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) must be linked with a NIN.
“Our members are committed to complying with the instructions and call on telecommunication subscribers who have not obtained or linked their NIN to their SIMs, to do so at any of the designated centres,” said Adebayo.
The association said its members remained committed to supporting the Federal Government and upholding the rights of citizens to communicate.
Newsbeatng reports that the deadline handed Nigerians by the Federal Government to link their NIN to their SIMs ended on March 31, after about eight postponements.
Also, federal government pushed for the linkage and on Friday directed Nigerians to ensure they complete the verification and linkage of their NINs to their SIMs within days.
Meanwhile, on Monday 4th of April, 2022, the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, and the Head, Corporate Communications at the Nigeria Identity Management Commission, Mr Kayode Adegoke, in a joint statement announced the feederal government’s directive on unlinked NIN-SIM.
