It is the same old story of agony for Nigerians after the telecommunications regulator clamped down on mobile telephone subscribers afresh for not linking their National Identification Numbers and Subscriber Identity Module cards. The Nigerian Communications Commission had superciliously ordered mobile telecoms companies to bar the phone lines of citizens who had not linked their NIN-SIM by February 28. As expected, the suspension has sparked widespread outrage and frustration among citizens. The NCC should stop punishing ordinary Nigerians for the infrastructural weaknesses bedevilling the telecoms sector.

Ordinarily, the policy, aimed at enhancing security and streamlining communication services, is the right call. Kidnappers, terrorists, and bandits are using phones to negotiate ransoms to the chagrin of victims and their families without being traced. The NCC has passed the bulk of using the NIN-SIM to catch criminals to the security agencies.

But like most things Nigerian, it is in the implementation that things have gone awry. Since 2020, linking the NIN-SIM has become a nightmare for subscribers. These days, Nigerians are enduring long queues at NIN registration and telco offices to link their phones. In many of these offices, it is either the internet is slow, not working or there is no electricity. In the digital age, this is ludicrous.

Consequently, those affected are running helter-skelter to link their lines. Worse, many of them had done it several times before but they were still barred. It means the technology in use is not working. The NCC puts the number of affected lines at about 42 million. The regulator threatened that any phone line not linked in the next 365 days would be forfeited completely. This is arbitrary. The financial implication could reach N242 billion, a media outlet said.

In addition, the NCC has failed to obey a court order restricting it from barring citizens yet to link their NIN to their SIM. In the lawsuit filed by Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, against the NCC and other stakeholders, the lawyer demanded a public apology and compensation for affected citizens.

It is troubling that the NCC, an agency entrusted with safeguarding the interests of Nigerian consumers, has chosen to ignore court orders. By proceeding to bar SIMs not linked to NINs, the NCC is demonstrating a disregard for the rule of law.

The deadline set by the NCC for subscribers to link their SIMs to their NINs has only exacerbated the situation. Many Nigerians have been forced to endure queues, and harsh weather conditions, and incur additional expenses to comply with the directive. For a policy that is intended to enhance security and improve service delivery, its implementation has only caused undue hardship and inconvenience to Nigerians.

The NCC’s insistence on enforcing the NIN-SIM linkage policy despite legal challenges and public outcry is worrisome. Instead of engaging with stakeholders and addressing concerns raised by citizens, the NCC has chosen to steamroll ahead with its agenda, leaving millions of Nigerians in the lurch.

Furthermore, the potential consequences of the NIN-SIM linkage policy are far-reaching. With over 70 million bank account holders at risk of being barred from accessing their accounts, the policy threatens to plunge millions into financial uncertainty and hardship.

Therefore, the NCC must do things better. Instead of resorting to heavy-handed tactics and unilateral deadlines, it should prioritise dialogue, consultation, and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.

Additionally, the NCC must take urgent steps to address the technical challenges and logistics constraints associated with the linkage process. The current system is riddled with defects, making it difficult for many Nigerians, particularly the elderly and less educated, to complete the process successfully. By improving the efficiency and accessibility of the NIN registration process, the NCC can alleviate the burden on citizens and ensure that everyone has equal access to communication services.

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