Thousands of people have stormed telecommunication stores across Nigeria after MTN, Glo, Airtel, and others began barring following lines not linked with a National Identification Number (NIN) over the weekend.
Over the weekend, Nigerians woke up to barred lines, especially on the MTN network. Many affected people said their lines were linked, and many shared screenshots of earlier SIM-NIN success messages.
“I had to go to their office after church. It’s not yet rectified. I just got home. I can only call and receive on WhatsApp using wifi,” Nike Benson, an affected subscriber said. “They said the name on the SIM is Hellen Ajibade, but I don’t know the person. I have been using the number for over 20 years.”
“I just heard a voice prompt that informed me that my line has been barred because I failed to link my NIN to my line. It also told me to visit the nearest MTN shop to reconnect my line”, another subscriber who identified himself as Shina said.
Since Saturday, tweets about barred lines have circulated. @obasagodwin tweeted, “@MTNNG, how many times do I have to link my NIN with my line?”
@Ada_Daddyya, “Why in heaven’s name is MTN blocking my lines even after I’ve registered my Nin? What is wrong with that company?”
@Emedymessi, “My MTN line was just barred this morning. As in my own precious line that I’ve been using for more than 10 years now. I’ve linked my NIN more than how many times, but they keep sending me messages to link it again.”
@The_Barr_OluT, “MTN barred my sim, and on a Sunday. Even after submitting my NIN like 6 times.”
On Monday, many Nigerians have besieged telco stores that have yet to open. The MTN store at Bode Thomas in Lagos already has a long queue that has spilled to the sidewalks and beyond the street curb.
Also, the MTN office located at Dada Estate Area in Osogbo, the Osun State capital is currently witnessing an influx of affected subscribers.
Many subscribers have similarly gathered at the MTN office in Abakaliki to get their SIM card unblocked but the staff are nowhere to be found.