NCC orders telcos to reactive blocked lines as situation turns chaotic
NCC
NCC orders telcos to reactive blocked lines as situation turns chaotic
Nike Popoola
The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed telecommunications operators to immediately restore all phone lines blocked over NIN issues among others, according to a statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.
The regulator decided to change its previous order after the situation turned chaotic in many places.
The disconnection was initially scheduled for April 15, 2024, but NCC postponed it to July 31, 2024, after considering various challenges encountered by subscribers and requests for extensions.
Crowds started converging at telcos offices on Sunday, as soon as people discovered they could no longer make or receive calls again.
The situation got worse on Monday as the crowds extended beyond the offices to the streets, which was becoming difficult to control, while some were fighting to make their ways inside the telcos offices.
An affected person told Dailyeconomy, “I had to go to MTN office in Ojodu after church on Sunday. They said the NIN linked to my number has my details but that the number has another person’s details and that the number has been disconnected and I should come back again.
“They said name on the sim is Hellen but I don’t know the person. I’ve been using the number for over 20 years and I still used it yesterday morning (Sunday). It’s strange because my NIN was attached to the number and name on my NIN is correct.
“After staying hours on the queue on Sunday, I went back there this morning (Monday) but it was too chaotic because the crowd was large and uncontrollable. I had to leave without any resolution because I couldn’t fight in the crowd.”
Another person who spoke to Dailyeconomy said, “I have been using my line for more than 10 years and I still used it on Sunday morning before MTN blocked it suddenly. Now, they are saying the line has been allocated to another person that it doesn’t belong to me;
“A line that I have been using for my bank accounts and all other things. I shouted inside the office, fought but they said I should come back without resolving the issue.”
