In a sudden move, MTN Nigeria announced the temporary closure of its shops across the country on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Although the company did not provide a reason for the closure, it is believed to be linked to the violent protests that erupted at some of its shops on Monday.
The protests were sparked by the barring of millions of lines by telecom operators, including MTN, due to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) directive to link National Identification Numbers (NIN) with SIM cards. Customers who had not complied with the directive found their lines blocked, leading to frustration and anger.
MTN encouraged its customers to use its digital channels for support, but the closure of physical shops has raised concerns about the impact on customers who rely on these outlets for assistance.
The NCC has since intervened, ordering telecom operators to reactivate the barred lines due to the challenges faced by consumers. The commission acknowledged the importance of giving consumers more time to properly link their SIMs with their NINs.
The NIN-SIM linkage exercise has been a contentious issue, with many customers struggling to comply with the directive. The temporary closure of MTN shops is a testament to the chaos and disruption caused by this policy.
