The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) says its members are not trying to frustrate the August 1 #EndBadGovernance protests by barring subscribers’ lines or restricting internet access.

The ALTON chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said Sunday night that it was coincidental that the barring of lines by telecommunications companies was coming when several Nigerians were preparing for the protest.

The #EndBadGovernance is expected to start on August 1 to demand the government’s solutions to the rising cost of living and economic hardship.

At the same time, some subscribers have had their lines barred by their telcos, even after doing the NIN-SIM linkage.

This led to complaints by subscribers that telcos are trying to restrict citizens’ access to the internet to frustrate the planned protest.

ALTON is the official industry body for all providers of telecommunications and subsidiary services in Nigeria. Its membership includes all the major telecommunications licensees in Nigeria, particularly those providing voice and data telephony and ancillary and other related value-added services.

Mr Adebayo said, “I have received enquiries about this issue. No organisation or association is barring lines because of the proposed protest. It is coincidental that the barring of lines is coming at a time a protest is being planned. We have no hand at all in what is going on about the protest.

“Telecommunications companies are service providers and provide service on non-discriminatory. Our hands are clean. Go to your network service provider, and your issue will be addressed.”

Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the national president of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, said the barring of lines was not done to frustrate anybody or any group.

Mr Ogunbanjo said there was a recent announcement on the issue, but many subscribers did not heed it. 

“The number of NIN that are not properly done is alarming, and when you ask the affected persons, they will say I went to a kiosk somewhere or something similar to do my NIN registration.

“Many do not use their real names. Some go to fake centres to do their NIN registration. The bottom line is that proper registration was not done. I implore everybody to do the needful and go to recognised NIN centres,” Mr Ogunbanjo said.

He said further that all persons who have not had their NIN properly registered should go to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) office.

Mr Ogunbanjo said they could also go to their local government secretariat to register the NIN.

The disconnection process began in February and was rolled out in three phases. The first phase occurred on February 28, 2024, followed by the second phase on March 29, 2024.

The Nigerian Communications Commission had directed telecommunications companies to extend the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to NIN by July 31, 2024.

During the initial February 28, 2024 deadline, the industry regulator said about 40 million lines not linked to NINs were barred. 

(NAN)