₦airaland Forum

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has faulted telecommunication companies in Nigeria for blocking the SIM cards of many subscribers in the country over their failure to link their National Identity Numbers (NIN).

Many subscribers of MTN Nigeria, the nation’s biggest telecom operator, took to social media on Sunday to fault the company for barring their telephone lines over NIN-SIM linkage without prior warning.

Technext also quoted an affected subscriber as saying he became aware of his line’s status when he tried to make a telephone call early in the day.

However, in a statement on Sunday, Adegboruwa questioned the rationale behind the telecom operators’ actions days before a nationwide protest scheduled to kick off on August 1.

“For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for very flimsy and untenable reasons. Some allege lack of NIN registration or linking while some did not give any reason at all.

“This action is coming on the heels of the proposed struggle of the people against hunger, poverty, suffering and the suffocating economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

“From all indications, it wouid seem that the underlying target of the telecom companies is to limit the reach of their customers in order to restrict access and thus frustrate the protests,” he said.

Adegboruwa noted that the contract between a telecom company and its subscribers is sacrosanct and should not be tampered with arbitrarily.

“Sufficient information and opportunity should be given for subscribers to remedy any alleged breach or error.

“So many telephone users deploy their numbers for their businesses and other lawful engagements, not to talk those who may have medical and health related emergencies.

“The NCC is urged to look into this and come to the rescue of the subscribers,” the senior lawyer added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said over 40 million telephone lines earlier barred ver failing to link their NIN faced the risk of being forfeited soon.

Link: https://newstip.ng/2024/07/28/sim-blocking-telcos-trying-to-sabotage-protests-senior-lawyer/

Many of my friends lines have been blocked. What a country!

Tinubu is a criminal who captured Nigeria treasury, nothing good will ever come out of him

atiku4President:
Many of my friends lines have been blocked. What a country!

A very frustrating country

And o was here thinking it was junior lawyer

take them to court

The telecoms risk legal repercussions by colluding with these politicians.

Lines of people who have been registered with their NINs have been blocked.

This is a plot to affect the protest

Very suspicious.

Aside randomly blocking lines, network has been patchy for some days.

NaMe4:
The telecoms risk legal repercussions by colluding with these politicians.

Lines of people who have been registered with their NINs have been blocked.

Even my mtn line got blocked. I found out when I tried recharging it.

A line i linked successfully since 2023.

ivandragon:
Very suspicious.

Aside randomly blocking lines, network has been patchy for some days.

You noticed that too?

Especially mtn. It will come and go.

JPhilip:
“For the past few days, some telecom companies have been disconnecting their subscribers for very flimsy and untenable reasons. Some allege lack of NIN registration or linking while some did not give any reason at all.
“This action is coming on the heels of the proposed struggle of the people against hunger, poverty, suffering and the suffocating economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
“From all indications, it wouid seem that the underlying target of the telecom companies is to limit the reach of their customers in order to restrict access and thus frustrate the protests,” he said.
Adegboruwa noted that the contract between a telecom company and its subscribers is sacrosanct and should not be tampered with arbitrarily.
“Sufficient information and opportunity should be given for subscribers to remedy any alleged breach or error.
“So many telephone users deploy their numbers for their businesses and other lawful engagements, not to talk those who may have medical and health related emergencies.
“The NCC is urged to look into this and come to the rescue of the subscribers,” the senior lawyer added.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said over 40 million telephone lines earlier barred ver failing to link their NIN faced the risk of being forfeited soon.

These are some really serious allegations being leveled here against the Telecomms companies.

Tinibu is d worst ruler nigeria ever had.