MTN Nigeria has announced the reopening of its shops nationwide on Wednesday, July 31, following a temporary closure due to vandalism.
The telecom giant closed its offices on Tuesday, July 30, after incidents of vandalism by aggrieved customers.
These customers were reportedly frustrated after their lines were disconnected over the weekend in accordance with the government’s NIN-SIM linkage policy.
In a message to its customers, MTN stated: “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 decision to close the offices temporarily was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of both staff and customers.
The incidents of vandalism were sparked by frustrations related to the government’s directive requiring all SIM cards to be linked with the National Identification Number (NIN).
The policy, which aims to curb insecurity and improve national data management, led to the disconnection of SIM cards that were not linked by the stipulated deadline.
The disconnections left many customers without access to mobile services, causing significant inconvenience and prompting a backlash against MTN.
Some customers resorted to vandalizing MTN offices in a bid to express their anger and demand immediate reconnection.
MTN Nigeria has reassured customers that it is committed to resolving the issues as swiftly as possible. In their statement, the company emphasized their availability through digital channels, providing 24/7 support to address customer concerns and queries.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy has been a contentious issue since its inception, with numerous extensions granted to allow more Nigerians to comply.
However, the most recent deadline saw the enforcement of disconnections, affecting millions of subscribers who had not yet linked their SIMs with their NINs.
The policy, which is enforced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance security and streamline national identification processes.
