The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has recently mandated a transition to a new identity verification platform, leading to a temporary suspension of SIM-related services across all mobile networks in Nigeria. The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) confirmed this disruption, explaining that the migration process has unfortunately caused unexpected technical difficulties, temporarily interrupting real-time identity verification services nationwide.

This widespread service interruption impacts critical SIM-related transactions, including SIM swapping, SIM replacement, new SIM activations, and Mobile Number Portability (MNP). Consequently, millions of subscribers in Nigeria are currently unable to perform these essential tasks, raising concerns among consumers who heavily rely on mobile connectivity for banking, communication, and various other digital services.

ALTON, in a statement signed by its chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and publicity secretary, Barr. Damian Udeh, acknowledged the inconvenience caused. However, they emphasized that this transition is part of a broader national initiative to enhance data security and improve the integrity and efficiency of national identity management. While the long-term benefits are clear, the immediate challenge lies in addressing the initial "teething issues" encountered during this large-scale migration.

In response to the challenges, ALTON has pledged close collaboration with relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and NIMC, to swiftly resolve the integration problems. The group has also issued an advisory to subscribers, urging them to postpone visits to service centres for SIM-related transactions until further notice, reassuring the public of their commitment to maintaining secure and high-quality telecommunications services and promising timely updates.

Industry analysts have noted that this migration underscores the federal government's ongoing efforts to harmonize identity verification across crucial sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and social services. Nevertheless, they caution that prolonged outages without clear and consistent communication could potentially erode public trust.

In a separate development within Nigeria's telecommunications sector, Lebara, a subsidiary of the London-based Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), has secured the 0724 phone number series. This marks a significant step towards its anticipated full launch in Nigeria in Q3 2025, having also secured full interconnectivity with all major mobile network operators in the country.