How to unblock a SIM card barred by NIN-SIM linkage issues
Nothing feels more disruptive and frustrating than suddenly losing access to a phone line. One moment, everything works as expected. The next, calls fail to connect, mobile data stops working, and a notification appears indicating that the line has been restricted or barred. For many Nigerians, this has become a familiar experience since the enforcement of the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage policy. The policy was introduced to strengthen digital identity verification and enhance national security. Under the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), all mobile subscribers were required to link their SIM cards with valid NIN records as part of a nationwide biometric verification framework. The NCC has continued to issue official updates and deadlines on compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage exercise. Tribune Online has also consistently reported on subscriber disconnections, verification challenges, and related compliance deadlines tied to the...