April 17, (THEWILL) – On April 4 this year, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that it had barred phone numbers that were not linked to a National Identity Number (NIN) from making calls. Two weeks later, NCC is still insisting that all the Subscriber Identification Modules not linked to a NIN will remain barred from making calls until the affected subscribers obey the directive.
Sadly, THEWILL gathered, most of the network subscribers who had earlier complied with the directive of the NCC to link their NIN to their phone lines were equally affected.
Since these affected customers were disconnected from the communication networks, the action which left many affected network subscribers disorganised, is still a shock to many. These subscribers, who are into one form of business or the other, have continued to count their losses for the fact that it has become impossible for them to make calls from their handsets.
Speaking on his plight, a spare parts dealer in the Atan area of Ogun State, Mr Emmanuel Ochei, an MTN subscriber, decried the baring of phone numbers, stating that the government would have given more time for an all inclusive participation.
Although, the timeframe given by the Federal Government for subscribers to link their NIN to their phone lines had been postponed several times, giving subscribers enough time to comply, Mr Ochei who had done his NIN linkage since last year, is of the view that more time should be given to them to fix their NIN issues again.
“I know they have postponed the deadline more than eight times; even at that, they should give more time. My business is no longer moving because I cannot follow up my customers. At the home front, I can’t even be with my little son who is doing his birthday at Issele Uku in Delta State”.
The spare parts dealer, however, expressed surprise that the same line that was disconnected can readily load recharge cards without any problem.
Consequently, he alleged that there might be some plans which are exploitative to rip off the network subscribers.
Similarly, Mrs Yetunde Shobowale, a building materials trader resident in the Lekki area of Lagos, equally condemned the action of the government, disclosing that her supply business has been adversely affected.
Mrs Shobowale, who claimed that she had done linkage since 2021, lamented that her phone line was disconnected, adding, “I did the NIN linkage to my line last year and everything was okay. I don’t know why they stopped my line from calling other lines. Before now, I supplied building materials to contractors. Within this period, my line has been disconnected and I cannot reach out to all the clients. I have to borrow phone before I can now reach out.”
A Lagos based meat seller, Luke Adejuwon, told THEWILL that his GSM phone was his major channel of supplying meat to his customers. According to him, since his SIM was restricted from making outgoing phone calls, his business has declined.
Accusing telecommunication companies of foul play, Adejuwon said that restricting his phone line without his consent, even after he had linked it with his NIN person amounted to exploitation.
However, during a visit to Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State, it was gathered that the number of network subscribers seeking NIN registration had increased.
Investigation shows that some agents assist desperate applicants to secure their National Identity Numbers at the cost of N5, 000, while capturing and initial registration attracts a fee of N1, 000.
The situation is not different at the MTN offices in some parts of Lagos. For instance, MTN offices located at Opebi and Allen Avenue in the Ikeja area are now saddled with the task of handling desperate customers who are either jostling for new SIMs or seeking any possible means of linking their old SIMs to their NIN.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has raised the alarm over the restrictions ordered by the Federal Government, insisting that barring subscribers, who have not linked their SIM cards to the National Identification Number (NIN) from making phone calls, infringes on their human rights.
SERAP condemned the directive in an open letter to the President, dated April 9, 2022, and signed by its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare.
“Blocking people from making calls undermines their ability to communicate freely and associate with others. It infringes their rights to freedom of expression and family life, as well as socio-economic rights,” SERAP said.
The organisation said the decision to block people from making calls was inconsistent and incompatible with the country’s international legal obligations to respect, protect, promote and facilitate economic and social rights.
“Access to telecommunications services is a condition sine qua non for the effective exercise of human rights. Therefore, the decision to block people from making calls is discriminatory and a travesty,” the letter added
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
