The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has announced a temporary nationwide disruption of all SIM-related services across mobile networks, following a mandatory migration to a new identity verification system ordered by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON Chairman, and Damian Udeh, the association’s Publicity Secretary, confirmed that the migration has led to unforeseen technical challenges affecting services critical to telecom subscribers.
“The transition to the new identity verification platform has temporarily impacted the ability of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to deliver seamless SIM-related services,” the statement read.
Affected services include:
- SIM swaps and replacements
- Activation of new lines
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Real-time identity verification for SIM registration
While the new platform is intended to enhance the integrity and efficiency of identity management in Nigeria, ALTON explained that the migration process has disrupted the systems that support day-to-day SIM operations.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause to millions of subscribers who depend on these services for communication, business, and daily activities,” Adebayo stated.
He further noted that ALTON and its member companies are working closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and other stakeholders to resolve the issues and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, ALTON has advised subscribers to defer visits to service centres for SIM-related services until further notice, promising that regular updates will be provided as efforts to stabilise the new platform continue.
“We sincerely apologise for the disruption and remain committed to delivering secure and high-quality telecommunications services,” Adebayo added.
