Nigeria’s telecom operators have temporarily suspended SIM-related services, including new registrations, SIM swaps, National Identification Number registration (NIN), and mobile number portability, after the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) migration to a new identity verification platform.
The disruption, confirmed by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has left millions unable to access essential mobile services. NIMC is moving to a new platform developed by Blusalt Financial Services, a Nigerian fintech specialising in embedded financial services and digital infrastructure. While officials say the system will enhance the speed and accuracy of identity verification in the long term, the immediate fallout threatens to delay digital inclusion and SIM compliance targets crucial to telecom coverage and financial access.
NIMC did not respond to requests for comments on why it is moving to a new vendor.
ALTON, which represents Nigeria’s mobile operators, advised subscribers to postpone all SIM-related transactions until further notice. “We understand the inconvenience this may cause to millions of subscribers who depend on these services for communication, business, and daily activities,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologise for the disruption.”
NIMC, which has registered over 120 million Nigerians to date, is targeting 100 million more enrollees by year-end to meet its 95% national coverage target. To stay on track, authorities are under pressure to complete the migration and restore service functionality quickly.
For now, Nigerians are being urged to remain patient as authorities race to restore SIM registration and identity verification services.
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