Babatunji Wusu –
Subscribers who have not yet submitted their National Identity Numbers (NINs) would not be allowed to use the network after February 28, 2024, according to MTN Nigeria Communications PLC.
According to a statement released by MTN’s company secretary, Uto Ukpanah, the action is in accordance with an industry-wide order that mandates that phone lines whose subscribers have not yet submitted their NINs be blocked by February 28 at the latest.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), according to the business, has ordered it to enforce its instruction to prevent users without NINs from accessing the network.
NINs that have been submitted but not confirmed, according to MTN, will be prohibited on or before March 29, 2024, if five or more lines are connected to an unverified NIN.
Likewise, lines that have fewer than five connections to an unverified NIN will be prohibited by April 15, 2024, at the latest. Before their lines are unbarred, all impacted subscribers must be validated (biometrics and biodata).
This is a response to the NCC’s order from April 4, 2022, which mandated that operators limit outgoing calls (also known as one-way banning) for customers whose lines aren’t connected to NINs.
“We are encouraging the impacted users to submit their NINs for verification by further interacting with them across all of our channels. To make the process go more smoothly and effectively, we are expanding the capabilities of our different service outlets as part of these efforts,” the business stated.
In order to expedite the NIN verification process, MTN states, “We shall persist in collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to guarantee that our customers adhere to the NCC instruction.
“We applaud the Federal Government’s efforts in putting in place a dependable and long-lasting National Identity Management system, since this is an essential tool for both economic and national growth.
“Therefore, we are committed to complying with the industry-wide directive from the NCC as a law-abiding corporate citizen and in line with our operating licence requirements. MTN Nigeria Communications PLC will provide further updates to investors on progress and potential impact with the release of FY 2023 results.”
Before the deadlines, the company asked all of its subscribers who haven’t yet connected their NIN to their lines to do so right away by going to the closest MTN store or utilizing any of its digital methods.
“To enroll for NIN, those without one should go to any of the NIMC’s enrollment centers across the country.
It stated, “Uto Ukpanah FCIS Company Secretary.”
