Adeolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), has urged telecoms subscribers to always give the right information while registering their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

Mr Ogunbanjo, who was reacting to the subscribers’ phone lines being barred by the telecommunication companies, gave the advice in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday.

He said the order by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),  directing service providers to reactivate all cell phone lines was commendable, urging subscribers to desist from registering their SIM with wrong information.

He said that many phone lines were barred in the last two to three weeks due to mismatches or different information or details given by the subscribers during registration of SIM and National Identification Number (NIN).

“Subscribers are usually giving details that do not match with NIN. When they go to SIM registration centres, many subscribers don’t give the correct details at registration centres.

“I have been at centres since last week. Subscribers should give correct information that will tally with their SIM registrations.

“Some of the SIM registration centres just use any photo to register consumers that is why we see discrepancies.

“If your phone line has been barred in the last two to three weeks, it is likely due to a mismatch between the details you gave during your SIM registration and the information linked to your National Identification Number (NIN).

He advised that subscribers who want to unbarred their lines should visit a service provider’s office in person and utilise their self-registration portal.

“As of now, only MTN and Airtel offer self-registration portals, allowing subscribers to avoid physically visiting their offices and waiting in line.”

He said subscribers should visit the links for proper registration: MTN: ninlinking.mtn.ng, Airtel: airtel.com.ng/nin.

Chidi Godwin, an MTN subscriber, expressed delight at the development and commended the NCC for its swift action to resolve the issue.

Mr Godwin said he had been in the MTN office since morning to lay a complaint, adding that but with the NCC intervention, he was rest assured that he would have enough time to do his SIM registration and follow the right steps.

NCC had directed all service providers to immediately reactivate all blocked SIM lines.

(NAN)