The telecommunications industry in Nigeria has been thrown into temporary disarray following the directive from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) mandating a migration to a new identity verification platform. This move, according to telecom operators, has led to a nationwide disruption in SIM-related services, affecting millions of subscribers.
In a joint statement issued by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the industry umbrella body confirmed that the directive has significantly impacted their ability to provide essential services such as SIM registration, SIM swap, number portability, and activation of new lines.
The statement, signed by ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo and Publicity Secretary Barr. Damian Udeh, noted that the migration has introduced “unforeseen technical challenges” in the real-time identity verification process required for these services.
“ALTON wishes to inform the general public, our valued subscribers, and all stakeholders of a temporary disruption affecting SIM-related services across all mobile networks in Nigeria,” the statement read.
While the new verification platform is designed to strengthen national identity management, its implementation has come with unintended consequences that are disrupting service delivery across the board. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have been unable to complete new SIM registrations or process requests for SIM replacements and number portability.
“As responsible operators, ALTON and its member companies remain fully committed to regulatory compliance and are working closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and other relevant authorities to resolve the integration issues as quickly as possible,” the statement added.
Telecom operators also appealed to customers to refrain from visiting service centers for SIM-related matters until further notice, assuring them of timely updates and eventual restoration of full services.
Across major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, long queues were reported at telecom customer service centers as frustrated subscribers sought SIM replacements or attempted to register new lines, only to be turned back due to the ongoing disruption. Many Nigerians rely heavily on their mobile lines not just for communication, but also for financial transactions, remote work, and access to digital services.
“I’ve been trying to retrieve my lost line for two days now. The telco keeps saying they can’t do anything because of a NIMC system issue. This is affecting my banking and work,” lamented Ifeanyi Chukwu, a Lagos-based customer.
Industry watchers and IT analysts have urged better coordination between government agencies and telecom operators in rolling out reforms of this magnitude.
“System upgrades should never paralyze national services. There should have been a phased migration or a well-planned switchover. This is why digital infrastructure coordination must improve,” said Segun Adigun, a telecom analyst based in Abuja.
Despite the current challenges, ALTON expressed optimism that ongoing engagements with NIMC and NCC would soon yield solutions that will allow seamless identity verification while maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s national database.
The association emphasized its commitment to national policy goals, including the broader use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for identity verification, as required by government regulations.
This disruption is a setback to Nigeria’s recent progress in digital identity integration, which had seen growing alignment between telecom services and national identity systems.
As Nigerians await a resolution, industry leaders are calling on both the government and the telecom sector to learn from this episode to ensure that future policy implementations are more strategic, phased, and subscriber-friendly.