After Nationwide Disruption Millions of telecommunication subscribers across Nigeria can breathe a sigh of relief as industry giants MTN and Airtel announced the full resumption of SIM swap and registration services. The restoration of these crucial services, follows a nationwide disruption attributed to a critical migration process within the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)’s verification system.
The downtime, which left countless subscribers stranded and unable to carry out essential SIM-related transactions, underscored the vital role of the National Identification Number (NIN) verification system in Nigeria’s digital landscape. This system is integral to the Federal Government’s mandatory SIM-NIN integration policy, which saw all unlinked SIMs deactivated in September 2024. Since then, a valid NIN has become indispensable for any SIM-related service, making access to NIMC’s platform paramount for telecom operators.
MTN Nigeria, via its official MTN Support account on X, confirmed the resumption, stating, “SIM swaps have now resumed. We can confirm that NIMC services are fully operational and appreciate their support in the migration to a new platform for NIN verification services for the telecommunications industry.” The operator acknowledged the impact of the disruption and advised affected customers to visit their nearest service centres for prompt resolution.
Airtel Nigeria echoed this sentiment, issuing a statement through social media clarifying that “The NIMC PORTAL is up and running. We regret earlier messages suggesting otherwise. We are sorry for the delay and are addressing the issue. We’ll update customers once resolved. We value our partnership with the NIMC and value your patience.”
While other major operators like Glo and 9mobile have yet to release formal updates, NIMC’s decision to repost MTN and Airtel’s announcements on its official X handle signals a broader restoration of access to its NIN verification system across multiple networks. Both MTN and Airtel are actively encouraging customers still facing challenges to utilize their walk-in service centres for immediate assistance, expressing gratitude for subscribers’ patience during the period of disruption.
Earlier in July, a nationwide service blackout plunged telecom subscribers into uncertainty as SIM related services suddenly ground to a halt. The root cause of the problem stemmed from a system migration at NIMC, which oversees Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure. The migration aimed to enhance the performance and scalability of the NIN verification system.
The NIN verification system acts as a cornerstone for SIM registration and swap procedures, ensuring the validation of user identities in strict adherence to the government’s SIM-NIN integration policy. The successful completion of the nationwide SIM-NIN linkage exercise by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in September 2024, after several deadline extensions, solidified the mandatory nature of NIN presentation for all SIM-related services.
For Nigeria’s vibrant micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which heavily rely on mobile connectivity for everything from daily transactions to customer communication and digital operations, the resumption of SIM services is a profound relief. Entrepreneurs and their employees who were previously hindered from critical activities like swapping damaged SIM cards, replacing lost ones, or registering new lines can now proceed, ensuring continuity in their business operations.
As Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, efficient identity verification systems are fundamental for fostering inclusive and secure access to vital mobile and internet services. In light of the recent disruption, MSMEs are strongly advised to proactively ensure that all their business-related lines remain fully compliant with SIM-NIN policies to mitigate against any future service interruptions
