MTN, Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, has announced the temporary closure of all its stores and service centers across the country. This decision comes after widespread outrage from customers whose lines were barred due to a mismatch in their National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM registration.
On Monday, a video went viral on social media showing a mob vandalizing an MTN office in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State. The angry customers were protesting the mass disconnection of their lines. However, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that normalcy had been restored at the scene.
In response to the backlash, MTN announced on Tuesday that it would be shutting down its shops nationwide to protect the safety of its customers and staff. The company is working to resolve the issue and restore services to affected customers.
The incident indicates the frustration of many Nigerians who have been affected by the SIM blocking exercise, which was intended to ensure compliance with NIN registration requirements.
