Customers Storm MTN Offices Over Mass Deactivated Lines

Disgruntled MTN customers have converged on the company’s offices across Nigeria, expressing their frustration over the recent deactivation of their mobile lines.

On Sunday, MTN deactivated numerous phone numbers, reportedly because users failed to link their National Identification Numbers (NIN) with their SIM cards.

This action follows a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) requiring the disconnection of SIM cards not linked to NINs, with the enforcement deadline set for July 31, 2024.

As of this report, MTN has not issued an official statement regarding the situation, and the number of affected lines is still unknown.

Subscribers began queuing at MTN offices early Monday morning, July 29, 2024, forming long lines outside the company’s premises.

The latest deadline extends from the previous date of April 15, 2024, to July 31, 2024. However, many subscribers are upset as their lines remain blocked despite having completed the NIN linkage process.

On February 29, the NCC warned that up to 45 million subscribers could face disconnection if they did not complete the required linkage.