The prolonged disruption in SIM-related services and the National Identification Number (NIN) system across Nigeria has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure, raising fresh concerns about system reliability, regulatory coordination, and digital service delivery.
The nationwide downtime, triggered by the migration of telecom operators to a new identity verification platform managed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has stalled key services such as SIM registration, replacement, and mobile number portability for over a week, leaving millions stranded and businesses hamstrung.
Industry experts said persistent disruptions have exposed significant vulnerabilities in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure,
Tech analyst, Jide Awe, in an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP, described the crisis as deeply troubling and a clear indication that Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem is ill-prepared to handle shocks to its digital backbone.
“People lose phones every day. You need a SIM card to do business, to access digital services, even for normal communications. The fact that everything is at a standstill because of a single system failure is not a good look for the country or the industry,” Awe said.
According to him, the current disruption has revealed a dangerous overdependence on NIMC’s verification portal, with no operational fallback or contingency plan in place. He faulted both telecom operators and regulatory bodies for failing to anticipate such a scenario.
“We have been tied to a situation where you cannot offer or even access communication services unless you are verified through NIMC. But what happens when that system fails, like it just has? There should have been a contingency plan,” he stressed.
Describing contingency planning as a basic pillar of responsible digital infrastructure management, Awe said it was unacceptable that no temporary service alternative had been activated despite the wide-scale impact.
“In a normal situation, when the main system of an organisation fails, a temporary or alternative method kicks in. There should not be a limbo like this for over a week. There should be a way of registering people or processing SIM swaps temporarily until the issue is resolved,” he said.
The analyst also questioned the lack of proactive technical audits across the telecom ecosystem, which could have flagged the absence of redundancies or triggered risk mitigation strategies before a full-blown shutdown.
“This is why tech audits exist. They exist to simulate failure scenarios and prepare for them. A system failure like this is not unexpected. If the NIMC platform fails, what is Plan B? That is the question nobody seems to have answered.”
Awe did not stop at the technical lapses. He criticised what he described as an unhealthy fear of regulators, particularly the NIMC and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), by telecom operators, which has led to inertia in the face of public frustration.
“There is this fear of regulators. But telcos need to stop being afraid. These regulators are public service institutions. They are not meant to be feared. Telcos must make a strong case to the NCC and fashion out a contingency system to serve Nigerians while this issue with NIMC is being resolved,” he added.
He emphasised that rigid enforcement of digital identity regulations without provisions for real-world failures can have devastating consequences, especially in a country where over 220 million people rely heavily on mobile communications for daily survival, business transactions, and social connectivity.
“Regulations like the SIM-NIN linkage are important for national security, but they should not be enforced in a way that punishes users when systems break down. The current approach is short-sighted and counterproductive,” he affirmed.
Awe warned that the crisis is more than just a technical glitch, it is a governance failure that threatens digital inclusion, economic resilience, and public trust in Nigeria’s tech-driven ambitions. “Right now, everything is at a standstill. The industry cannot onboard new subscribers, support digital growth, or even deliver basic services. That should never happen. It is affecting the economy, stalling businesses, and putting people at risk,” he asserted.
He urged telecom companies to escalate the issue through a united industry front and collaborate with regulators, not in fear but in partnership, to establish resilient frameworks that ensure continuity of service in times of systemic breakdowns. “Talk to your customers, understand their pain points, and use that feedback to push for reforms. Because right now, Nigerians are asking: what are telecoms existing for, if they can’t even provide basic services in a crisis?” he added.
Awe therefore called for a reset in how Nigeria approaches digital infrastructure, emphasizing that resilience, foresight, and user protection must take precedence in future system design and regulation. “Telcos need to check themselves. Why didn’t they have a backup plan for something this important? This cannot continue. We must learn from this episode to build a telecom ecosystem that’s truly reliable and future-proof,” he advised.
The disruption has already exacted a human and economic toll. One such victim, a Lagos resident, Dupe Ahmed, whose phone was recently stolen in the Ojuelegba area, told LEADERSHIP that, “The moment I noticed my phone had been snatched, I rushed to block my line to prevent any misuse. But all the mobile centres said I couldn’t do anything because the NIN platform is down.”
Unable to block her stolen SIM, Ahmed said criminals began using her number to impersonate her and extort money from her contacts. “They have been messaging and calling my friends, asking for money. Some have even fallen for it. I feel helpless,” she said.
Her story is not isolated. At Ojota, a chemical trader, Yusuf Lawal, lamented how the NIN-related disruption frustrated his plan to port his number to another network due to persistent service issues. “I tried to move my number to another provider, but I was told they could not process it. I then opted to buy a new SIM so my business won’t suffer, but even that could not be registered. For someone who relies on phone calls to coordinate deliveries, this is a nightmare,” he said.
Similarly, SIM registration agents who depend on daily commissions from new SIM activations and swaps are bearing the brunt.
One agent operating around Ketu, who spoke anonymously, has recorded near-zero income since the disruption began.
“Before now, I would register at least 15 new SIMs a day and make good money. But in the last week, I have not registered a single line. Customers come, we try, and it fails. I am losing money every day,” he lamented.
The ongoing disruption stems from a migration directive issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which mandates all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to shift to a new identity verification portal. The new platform is intended to enhance the accuracy and security of Nigeria’s identity verification process, a core requirement for SIM registration, swap, and portability.
However, the transition has not gone as smoothly as planned.
Operators under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), confirmed the nationwide downtime and explained that unforeseen technical challenges have hampered the migration process, crippling SIM-related services across all networks.
Speaking on behalf of telecoms operators, ALTON chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo explained to LEADERSHIP, that, “This disruption follows a recent directive from the NIMC mandating our members to transition to a new identity verification platform. The migration process, which directly impacts real-time identity verification required for SIM registration, SIM replacement, Mobile Number Portability (MNP), and other related services, has introduced unforeseen technical challenges that are currently affecting service availability nationwide.”
Adebayo emphasised that during this period, mobile operators will not be able to support SIM swap, SIM replacement, activation of new subscribers, and other related services, while urging subscribers to avoid visiting service centers for SIM-related issues until further notice.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause to millions of subscribers who depend on these services for communication, business, and daily activities. We sincerely apologise for the disruption and kindly advise subscribers to postpone visits to service centers,” he added.
ALTON chairman, however, reassured the public that efforts are underway to resolve the issue in collaboration with the NCC, NIMC, and other relevant stakeholders.
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