News

MTN Disconnects 4.2 Million Lines Not Linked To NIN

Published

2 years ago

March 2, 2024

Editor

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

PUNCH

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.