Telcos set to bar calls from unlinked NIN-SIMs

The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria, on Tuesday, said its members would comply with the Federal Government’s directive barring outgoing calls of subscribers who were yet to link their National Identification Number with their SIM.

The association made this known in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, and Head of Operations, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga.

It was earlier reported that the deadline handed on Nigerians by the Federal Government to link their NIN to their SIMs ended on March 31, after about eight postponements.

At the last minute, the government pushed for the linkage and on Friday, directed Nigerians to ensure they completed the verification and linkage of their NINs to their SIMs within days.

Adebayo said, “We can confirm that our members have received a 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 that the policy required that all Subscriber Identification Modules 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 centers,” he said.

The chairman said its members remained committed to supporting the Federal Government and upholding the rights of citizens to communicate.

NAN