Phone line blockages not linked with August 1 protest — Telcos

The recent disconnection of SIM cards by mobile operators is unrelated to the upcoming nationwide protest, according to the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria.

August 1st will see the start of a national demonstration intended to highlight the nation's economic problems and call for better living circumstances.

The statement, which was received by on Monday, made it clear that the disconnections are a planned effort that will end on July 31, 2024, to synchronise National Identification Numbers with SIM registration records.

The disconnection was originally scheduled for April 15, 2024, but the Nigeria Communications Commission delayed it to July 31 in response to requests for extensions because of issues with subscribers.

2020 saw the implementation of SIM card blocks by the federal government for people who were not associated with NINs, a measure introduced in response to increasing terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and banditry during the final months of President Buhari’s administration.
According to the telecoms group, "the fact of the matter is that the harmonisation exercise of the SIM registration database and National Identity database has been ongoing for several months."

The goal of this harmonisation process, according to ALTON, which was chaired by Gbenga Adebayo, has been to improve the accuracy and integrity of the National SIM registration database. It has been in place for a number of months.
"The customers whose service providers discovered an inconsistency between their entries on both databases are the ones whose lines were recently blocked.
"In order to resolve the issue, we advise such customers to contact their service providers through communicated channels," the organisation said.

ALTON underlined its dedication to assisting governmental initiatives and defending the rights to communication, protection of personal information, and security.

Human rights attorney Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa cautioned telecom companies against attempting to stifle the upcoming demonstration against economic hardship by limiting internet access for Nigerians.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria pleaded with the NCC to provide unbroken internet access for the #EndBadGovernance demonstration in a statement.

Adegboruwa issued a warning, saying that any effort to impose restrictions on internet access would be seen as a violation of people's rights to free expression and assembly. He emphasised how crucial it is to give Nigerians unhindered access to exercise their democratic rights during the demonstration.

Some telecom firms have been terminating their customers for spurious and unworkable reasons for the previous few days.
Some say it's because they didn't register or link their NIN, while others have given no explanation at all. He stated, "This action is in line with the people's fight against repressive economic policies of the Tinubu administration as well as hunger, poverty, and pain.