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MTN Disconnects 4.2 Million Lines Not Linked To NIN

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Many Subscribers to the MTN network in Nigeria are now stranded as the telecommunications giant disconnected their lines over failure to link their National Identity Numbers to their Subscriber Identification Module cards.

This is coming after several warnings by the Nigerian Communications Commission and the telecoms company that subscribers must link their lines to their NINs.

On Friday, MTN Nigeria reported that over 4.2 million lines were disconnected from its network after the February 28 deadline given by the NCC.

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The firm disclosed this in its Earning Report for the year ended December 31, 2023.

It also noted that 19 million lines on its network were currently being verified, adding that 4.3 million had been verified as of February.

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MTN noted, “We also had approximately 4.2 million lines disconnected for which the subscribers did not submit their NIN. Several of these lines were low-value subscribers, minimising the revenue impact.

“We are actively engaging the authorities to accelerate the NIN verification process. We have also increased our engagement with the affected customers, providing various channels for verification to minimise service disruption.”

The disconnected lines are part of an industry-wide directive requiring telecom operators to bar subscribers whose lines have not been linked to their NIN.

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The NCC had in December 2023 issued a directive to MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile to fully bar phone lines not linked to subscribers’ NINs by February 28, 2024.

Those who had submitted their NINs but were not verified were also subject to barring.

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For lines with submitted but unverified NINs, the directive mandated barring on or before March 29, 2024, for five or more linked lines.

For less than five linked lines, our correspondent learnt that barring would occur on or before April 15, 2024.

The NCC emphasised the need for biometric and biodata verification before unblocking the affected lines.

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Industry sources noted that about 12 million lines across the networks might have been disconnected after the February 28 deadline.

Lamenting the disconnection, a stay-at-home mother in Rivers State, Mrs Comfort Pepple, said she was shocked when she tried to make a call on Thursday but could not as her MTN line had been barred.

She said, “The network on my phone is not even working. I am speaking to you now with my daughter’s phone. I am not even sure anybody can call me.

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READ ALSO: How To Link Your NIN, BVN To Your Bank Account

“I tried several times to link this SIM to my NIN, but it kept bouncing back, saying I needed to revalidate my NIN. I don’t have the time to go and queue. I am old.”

A resident of the Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, Mama Nampar, lamented her plight to our correspondent using a neighbour’s phone.

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The neighbour had shared a video on his WhatsApp status, asking for ways people who had been barred could get their lines back.

“I don’t know what to do. I am expecting some calls that will give me money. I don’t even have a NIN. I am too old to be queuing from place to place. In Qua’an Pan, it is not even free. Some vendors here ask us to pay and I cannot afford it,” she lamented.

She begged the government to extend the deadline to accommodate people like her.

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Meanwhile, MTN emphasised its commitment to engaging the authorities to expedite the NIN verification process.

According to the firm, efforts have been intensified to communicate with affected customers, providing various channels for verification to minimise service disruption.

MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, commenting on the company’s performance in 2023, highlighted the sustained growth in the user base, with over four million subscribers added during the year, bringing the total base to 79.7 million. Data subscribers also increased by over five million to 44.6 million, contributing to a 44.9 per cent growth in total data traffic.

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Toriola attributed the robust commercial momentum to the company’s strategic investments in network quality and coverage, adding that the acquisition of the 2600MHz spectrum in September 2023 played a crucial role in efficiently deploying additional capacity to the network.

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Israeli Mission To Bolster Wellbeing Of Orphans In Nigeria

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The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has promised to bolster the wellbeing of orphans in Nigeria.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the embassy, Inbar Garden stated this in Abuja while donating food items to the Hope for Survival Orphanage, Gishsiri community, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She said aside helping to promote collaboration between Nigeria and Israel, the mission is committed to supporting the wellbeing of the orphans.

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Garden said, “We just want to ensure the orphans have a better future and not taken for granted.

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“It takes a person with a giant heart to give themselves to the society and make other peoples life matter.

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“I urge you, children at the Orphanage to be focused on your future, because you are not going to stay in this place forever.

“Just dream big and say it loud, and go get your dreams fulfilled.”

Also,the Proprietress of the orphanage, Ruth Ibrahim, thanked the embassy for the kind gesture,

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According to her, even for you to come here is not easy due to the deplorable road to the orphanage.

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We thank God for the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike’s intervention, the road was so bad, at least he has repaired it, such that we can easily come into the orphanage as against before.

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“God bless and enrich you for putting smiles on our faces, this is good, because we have never seen such a large cooking of meal like this in our orphanage,” Ibrahim said.

She decried lack of access to medical services and paucity of funds toward the construction of fence around the orphanage, to be major challenges they faced.

The orphanage have 67 children, with two having graduated from university and eight of them are currently in SS3, preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam.

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The highpoint of the event is a treat for the children at the orphanage to a buffet by the Israeli deputy chief of mission.

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Isokpan Sworn In As Egor LG Vice Chairman, Pledges Loyalty to Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda

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The Egor Local Government Council Secretariat was abuzz on Monday as Hon. Kenny Isokpan was officially sworn in as the Vice-Chairman of the Council, in a colourful ceremony attended by party leaders, stakeholders, and community groups.

The event drew a large gathering, including the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Hon. Plus Alile, alongside other prominent political figures.

In his address, the Acting Chairman of the council, Hon. Osaro Eribo, described Isokpan as a vibrant and energetic youth whose emergence heralded renewed vigour in the Council’s leadership.

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He expressed confidence that the new Vice-Chairman would work closely with him to advance Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda at the grassroots level.

Shortly after assuming office, Isokpan lauded Okpebholo for his developmental strides across the state and for providing him the platform to serve.

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He pledged unwavering loyalty to the governor, the party leadership, and Eribo, vowing to contribute his quota towards repositioning Egor in line with the progressive vision of the administration.

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The new Vice-Chairman also expressed gratitude to the State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, for his steadfast leadership, and commended party leaders at the state, local government, and ward levels for their support.

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He gave special recognition to a prominent Egor leader, Hon. Osahon Airhunmwunde, for standing by him during his most challenging moments.

Isokpan further acknowledged the solidarity of the Red Cross Society and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), stressing that their support reflected broad-based confidence in the ruling party’s grassroots agenda.

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Dangote Group Agrees To redeploy Workers Sacked By Refinery

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After a peace meeting, the Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy the workers sacked by its subsidiary, Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The resolution was announced on Wednesday by the ministry of labour and employment in a statement on the outcome of the reconciliation meetings held on Monday and Tuesday.

Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) met on Tuesday with Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment to resolve the labour dispute.

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READ ALSO:Dangote Refinery Dispute: PENGASSAN Suspends Strike After FG Intervention

Disclosing other agreements reached during the meeting, the ministry said the parties agreed that the disengaged workers will be absorbed by other subsidiaries in Dangote Group without loss of pay.

The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected,” the ministry said

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After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

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“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.

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“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike.

“Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”

On September 26, PENGASSAN instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike over the dismissal of workers by Dangote refinery.

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