MTN Nigeria has announced the resumption of its nationwide operations, following a temporary shutdown on Tuesday.
The telecommunications giant confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that its physical shops would be open to customers from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, stating, “Y’ello customer, please note that our shops nationwide will be open today, 31 July. Operating hours: 8.00 am-3:00 pm. We are also available 24/7 to support you via digital channels.”
The shutdown was prompted by widespread customer outrage and vandalism, sparked by the disconnection of subscribers who failed to link their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NINs). The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had directed telecommunications operators to block unverified lines, leading to thousands of subscribers storming telecom offices on Monday.
In response to the disruption, the NCC ordered the immediate restoration of all affected lines. The mandatory NIN-SIM linkage, initiated in December 2020, aimed to enhance security and create an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite multiple deadline extensions, many lines remain unverified, prompting the latest directive from the NCC.
