Temporary suspension of SIM services in Nigeria: What you need to know

• The National Identity Management Commission has implemented a caller individuality verification platform, causing the impermanent suspension of SIM-related services crossed Nigeria
• ALTON acknowledged the disruption, stating that the modulation is portion of a broader effort to amended information information and integer inclusion, contempt archetypal method challenges
• The radical has pledged to enactment with applicable authorities to resoluteness the issues swiftly and advised subscribers to hold SIM-related transactions until further notice

Legit.ng writer Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

Due to the ongoing modulation to a caller individuality verification level required by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has announced a impermanent suspension of SIM-related services crossed each mobile networks successful the nation.

The migration process has unluckily impacted work availability. Photo Credit: MTN, Airtel
Source: Getty Images

In a connection released connected Tuesday and signed by its chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and publicity secretary, Barr. Damian Udeh, ALTON said the alteration has caused unexpected method difficulties that person temporarily interrupted real-time individuality verification services crossed the country.

The alteration impacts processes specified arsenic SIM swapping, SIM replacement, caller SIM activations, and Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

“This disruption follows a caller directive from the NIMC, mandating our Mobile Network Operator (MNO) members to modulation to a caller individuality verification platform. The migration process, which is cardinal to the verification required for SIM registration and different services, has unluckily impacted work availability,” ALTON explained.

As a effect of this, subscribers successful Nigeria are presently incapable to execute SIM-related tasks, including getting caller SIMs, replacing mislaid ones, oregon switching networks. Millions of consumers, who mostly beryllium connected mobile connectivity for banking transactions, communication, and different integer services, are disquieted astir the disruption.

ALTON acknowledged the inconvenience but stressed that the semipermanent extremity of the power to the caller NIMC strategy is to amended the effectiveness and integrity of nationalist individuality management.

“This is not conscionable a method upgrade—it is portion of a broader nationalist effort to heighten information information and integer inclusion. However, similar with immoderate large-scale migration, archetypal teething issues are being encountered,” the connection noted.

In summation to reaffirming its dedication to regulatory compliance, ALTON revealed that its members are collaborating intimately with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and different pertinent parties to find a speedy solution to the integration problems.

“We sincerely apologise for the disruption and kindly counsel subscribers to postpone visits to work centres for SIM-related transactions until further notice,” the radical stated.

Industry analysts accidental the migration underscores ongoing efforts by the federal government to harmonise individuality verification crossed captious sectors, including telecommunications, banking, and societal services. But they besides caution that mediocre alteration absorption could erode nationalist spot if outages persist without wide communication.

Industry analysts accidental Telcos migration underscores ongoing efforts by the national authorities to harmonise individuality verification crossed captious sector. Photo Credit: Contributor
Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, ALTON pledged to supply timely updates arsenic the concern evolves and reiterated its members’ committedness to delivering secure, reliable, and high-quality telecommunications services.

“We admit the patience, understanding, and continued enactment of the Nigerian nationalist during this period,” the connection added.

Another telcom launches successful Nigeria

Legit.ng reported that a subsidiary of the London-based Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Lebara, has officially secured the 0724 telephone fig bid arsenic it prepares to afloat motorboat successful Q3 2025.

The caller improvement marks a large measurement successful its strategical introduction into the Nigerian telecom market.

In a statement, the institution said it has secured afloat interconnectivity with each large mobile web operators successful the country.

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Source: Legit.ng