Millions of mobile users in Nigeria will face a temporary halt in Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)-related services as telecom operators switch to a new identity verification platform mandated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed the disruption on Tuesday in a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, and publicity secretary, Damian Udeh.
According to the statement, the migration to the NIMC’s upgraded system has led to technical hiccups affecting key services such as SIM registration, subscriber identity module swaps, mobile number portability (MNP), and new Subscriber Identity Module activations across all networks.
“While the new platform is designed to boost identity management efficiency in Nigeria, the transition has caused unexpected challenges,” ALTON said. “This has directly impacted the real-time identity verification required for SIM-related operations.”
The disruption means mobile network operators will temporarily be unable to process new subscriber registrations, replace lost SIMs, or carry out other Subscriber Identity Module services.
Adebayo assured the public that ALTON is working with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and other key bodies to fix the integration problems swiftly.
“We understand how disruptive this is for millions who rely on telecom services daily. We sincerely apologise and urge subscribers to delay visiting service centres for SIM-related matters until further notice,” he said.
ALTON promised timely updates as work progresses to restore full service, reaffirming its commitment to delivering secure and high-quality telecom services across the country.
