By Nkechi Eze
Mobile phone users across Nigeria are set to experience a temporary disruption in SIM-related services following the migration to a new identity verification platform mandated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This development was disclosed on Tuesday by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in an official statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, and the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Damian Udeh.
According to ALTON, the disruption affects critical services such as SIM swaps, replacements, new SIM activations, and other related services across all mobile network operators in the country. The association attributed the disruption to technical challenges that arose from the ongoing transition to the new NIMC identity verification platform, which is intended to enhance the integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s identity management systems.
“The new platform aims to improve the integrity and efficiency of identity management systems,” Mr. Adebayo said. “However, the transition has temporarily hindered Mobile Network Operators from offering seamless SIM-related services.”
ALTON emphasized that while the goal of the migration is to modernize and streamline national identity verification processes, the unforeseen technical issues that have emerged during the integration phase have significantly impacted the ability of telecom operators to deliver uninterrupted services to customers. As a result, operators will be unable to process any SIM-related requests during this period.
The association assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to resolve the issues. “ALTON and member firms are working with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and other relevant authorities to fix the integration issues as quickly as possible,” Adebayo noted.
In the meantime, ALTON has advised subscribers to postpone any non-urgent SIM-related requests until further notice. The association expressed regret over the inconvenience this development may cause and appealed for patience from the general public while resolution efforts continue.
“We understand the importance of these services to Nigerians and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. We assure our subscribers of our continued commitment to delivering secure and high-quality telecommunications services,” the statement read.
ALTON further pledged that timely updates would be provided as the situation evolves, and reaffirmed the industry’s dedication to supporting the digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria while ensuring that customers continue to receive reliable services once the migration is successfully completed.
This latest development underscores the broader challenges of digital infrastructure transitions in critical sectors, particularly when multiple regulatory and operational stakeholders are involved. As millions of Nigerians rely on mobile communication for personal, commercial, and security purposes, the urgency of resolving the current disruption cannot be overstated.
