By Jumai Nwachukwu/Chika Kwamba/Ambrose Ologide/Favour Akponovwe/Emmanuel Idris
Following the directive issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for telecommunication operators to reconnect phone lines blocked over the weekend due to non linkage to the National Identification Number (NIN), thousands of Nigerians, including Deltans are celebrating the restoration of their mobile lines.
The NCC’s order came just hours after businesses and communication were severely disrupted, leaving many Nigerians stranded and frustrated. The reactivation of blocked lines, which were affected due to the non-linkage of NIN to SIM cards, brought immediate relief.
In Asaba, our correspondents captured the public reaction to the situation. Edith Sunday, a trader, shared her experience with The Pointer, saying “the situation disrupted my activities and left me confused. Visiting the MTN office was not in my plan. I tried to reach out to my business partners this morning and I couldn’t. A few hours later, I restarted my phone and suddenly my network was restored. I felt so relieved as I could go about my business as usual.”
Lovina Ikechukwu, a fashion designer, also expressed her joy. “I woke up to this pathetic situation, but my joy has been restored. I can now make business calls and reach out to family and friends. Being able to use the internet and make calls again is such a relief.”
Happiness Obioma, a staff of The Pointer Newspaper, was overwhelmed with joy following the reactivation of her business line. She praised the NCC for the swift action in addressing the distressing situation. “I hail NCC for wading in.”
The prompt response by the NCC has been widely appreciated, as it quickly resolved the communication blackout that affected numerous subscribers across the country. In Warri, the commercial nerve centre of the state, our correspodent reports that scores of customers besieged MTN offices in Otovwodo (Agbassa) community by Warri/Sapele road and Alaka Quarters by Effurun/ Sapele Road over the barred sim cards .
One of the affected customers, Dr. Dickson Oyovwi, who is the Provost of College of Education, Warri, told The Pointer that his MTN SIM started malfunctioning last weekend but it was duly registered and linked to his National Identification Number (NIN), wondering why it was barred. He, however expressed happiness that MTN has been directed to restore lines that were barred. While a Warri based public analyst, Chief Akpojotor Adjarho, who was also a victim of MTN’s action, said he he had been using the MTN SIM card right from inception.
Another affected MTN customer in Effurun , Uvwie Local Government Area who declined disclosing her identification stated that she registered her SIM card in MTN office in Effurun where she spoke to Pointer and that her MTN sim card was also linked to her NIN .
