Barred Numbers: MTN Shuts Down Offices Over Fears of Violence, Vandalisation

Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company MTN has shut down its offices nationwide over fears of violence from customers whose phone lines have been blocked for not being linked to their National Identification Number (NIN).

Due to the expiration of the grace period given by Nigeria’s telecom regulator, The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), all phone lines not linked to NIN of their uses were disconnected from the networks.

The directive took effect on Sunday and left several thousands of subscribers locked out of the network. By Monday morning, crowds gathered at various offices of telecom operators with some resorting to violence and destruction of properties as was seen in Ibadan, Oyo State and some parts of Lagos State.

More details coming…