NIN: Subscribers lament as telcos commence blocking of outgoing calls on unlinked SIMs

Telecommunications companies have started barring outgoing calls of subscribers who have yet to link their national identification number (NIN) with their subscriber identification modules (SIM) cards.

On Monday, the federal government directed all telcos to restrict unlinked SIMs from making calls.

Lamenting difficulties in making calls on Tuesday, a Twitter user and Glo subscriber, @Tee_Classiquem1, taunted the telco for quickly complying with the government’s directive.

Glo is always slow in everything until its time to start blocking lines because of Nin-Sim linkage, they can't even wait for 24hours after the announcement before barring people from making calls, so rich coming from a company who can't provide stable network for its customers

— OMOTAYO Of Lagos ???? (@Tee_Classiquem1) April 5, 2022

“Let’s see who will be at loss at the end of the day, you block our lines, we are no longer buying airtime.”

Another user, @iamIkem, called out MTN for doing the same to his line.

“MTN has barred me from making calls due to NIN-SIM linkage. I no dey too do normal call before sef, when WhatsApp call dey?
So I’m not moved,” the user wrote.

MTN has barred me from making calls due to NIN-SIM linkage.

I no dey too do normal call before sef, when WhatsApp call dey?

So I’m not moved.

— Ikemefuna Okafor (@iamlkem) April 5, 2022

Newsmen also attempted to make a call with an unlinked MTN line but an automated voice said, “Your line has been barred from making calls. Please submit your NIN to get your line activated.”

Airtel, another telecom company, in a statement, said that all SIMs that have not been linked to a NIN will be placed on “receive only” status with immediate effect.

“Subscribers of such lines can still link their SIMs to their NINs in order that these restrictions can be lifted. Customers are therefore being given a final opportunity to fully comply with the latest registration requirements,” it added.