- Telecommunication companies blocked thousands of users, claiming it was the failure to link SIM to NIN
- Nigerians believe it is a tactic to hinder the upcoming nationwide protest
- Affected Nigerians stormed MTN offices across the country this morning
Many Nigerians believe the plan is to keep potential protesters busy re-registering their SIMs at their offices, preventing them from joining the scheduled protests.
ALTON’s chairman denies allegation
However, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo, has debunked rumours of any plan to frustrate the nationwide protest slated for August 1.
He said, “This is the funniest allegation anybody can make. We are in a social and economic contract with the people to provide services which is critical to their lives, at all times. That contract will not allow us to do such a thing. Besides, what is the motive for which we can even assume such a heinous act? Both those for and against the protest are our subscribers, so if we try to frustrate it, whose interest will we be serving? We are apolitical by nature and will remain so. We have no business to interfere with the political beliefs of our subscribers. So, we have no intention to interfere in whatever way with the protest”.
Failure to link SIM to NIN resulted in SIM blockage
He added, “The deadline for SIM-NIN linkage for subscribers who have not done so is this month's end, and networks have started barring such subscribers after sufficient and repeated warnings have been passed. It will be unfair to attribute such disruptions to telcos interfering with the protest”.
Nonetheless, affected people were sighted in numbers at the MTN offices, one of the Telecom operators, across the country.
Affected people stormed MTN office
A large crowd flooded the MTN office in Festac, Lagos State on Monday morning, July 29, after users discovered their MTN SIM cards had been barred from making and receiving calls.
Relatedly, people stormed the MTN office at Idi-Ape, Ibadan, Oyo state due to the telecom company blocking their lines.
Affected users were sighted at the MTN office in Osogbo, Osun State, protesting the blocking of their SIM cards by MTN.
Nigerians have also taken to social media to voice their concern in what is believed to be a deliberate strategy to hinder the planned nationwide protest.
Nigerians react to line barring by telecoms
“I believe businesses like MTN, Airtel, Glo & 9Mobile are not our problem. Whatever they do is in compliance with industry rules. They blocked lines because there was a directive since early in the year to do so. There is no link whatsoever to the protest. Let’s focus abeg,” Omo Alhaja stated.
“MTN deliberately barred and blocked subscribers SIM CARDS to prevent protesters from calling each other,” Obalowo Sunday pointed out.
“Ph MtN office don catch fire,” Matochi O Chi stated.
“He be like say na from mtn office this protest go start,” Ayomide tweeted.
“@MTNNG i have linked my number to my NIN a long time ago why can’t I make calls?” Realtor_bukkie asked.
Is that why we should go for days without network and stuff @AirtelNigeria ?? Chynan’so asked.
“funny. it could trigger the protest earlier,” Dr Emmanuel commented.
“This is really bad, why would @MTN180 @MTNNG block people's line after they had all been link to NIN,” #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria lamented.
“Am I the only one who hasn’t had 9mobile network all day? @9mobileng what’s going on?”
Sage stated.
“This can act as a catalyst for the protest!,” Dr Bio.com tweeted.
“Who else doesn’t have network on their 9mobile sim? Regular network not internet,” Best Perfume Plug added.
“As a Nigerian, if you're not queuing at a fuel station because of scarcity, you'll definitely be at the nearest MTN Office this morning because lines of even those who linked their NINS have been barred. We're living in a country where impunity & cruelty reigns supreme,” Sir David Onyemaizu commented.
“My 9Mobile is still barred. Tired of this, man,” Toyosi Godwin stated.
Nigerians react as Oro festival coincides with nationwide protest in Lagos
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported that The Oro festival announcement in Lagos has generated backlash as many perceive it as a deliberate act to hinder the upcoming nationwide protest.
The Oro festival involves rituals which vary among communities. TheRadar compiled reactions from Nigerians.