Tech
Telecommunications operators in Nigeria, specifically MTN and Airtel, have announced the resumption of SIM swap services after a recent disruption affecting millions of subscribers.
The disruption was caused by issues related to access to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)’s verification platform, which was undergoing a platform migration to strengthen the security and efficiency of Nigeria’s identity infrastructure.
Affected Services: SIM swaps, replacements, and new activations were impacted due to the technical disruption.
Resolution: NIMC services are now fully operational, and both MTN and Airtel have encouraged customers experiencing lingering delays to visit their nearest service centers for assistance.
Other Telecom Operators: Glo and 9mobile have not yet issued formal announcements regarding the restoration of SIM-related services, but NIMC has indicated that SIM swap services have resumed across multiple networks.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had previously concluded a SIM and NIN linkage exercise, making it mandatory for subscribers to provide valid National Identity Numbers (NINs) for SIM registration.