Telecommunications companies have resumed National Identification Number Subscriber Identity Module data verification services across the country following days of downtime due to a technical glitch on the National Identity Management Commission’s portal, as the configuration to the virtual NIN continues.
The PUNCH reported on Thursday that, following a protracted battle with the NIMC over the directive to migrate to the vNIN platform due to a technical glitch on the primary NIN platform, telcos began making preparations and arrangements on Wednesday to reconfigure their systems in accordance with the identity commission’s earlier directive.
Telcos have resumed SIM-related services, according to a source at an MTN branch in Lagos. Most SIM-NIN-related services have resumed in most retail shops across the country, according to the source, albeit a few have yet to fully setup their systems to use the vNIN platform.
The source said, “Most of our offices are working. Some of our offices in Lagos is working as well as many others here in Lagos. They’re working everywhere. To the best of my knowledge, I’m on a platform where some states are working in the North and in the South.”
MTN had on Wednesday announced to its customers that they would now be required to provide their vNIN or the improved NIN slip for all SIM-related services.
The company had said, “vNIN is a tokenised version of a person’s actual NIN, it is a 16-digit alphanumeric (ABCXYZ1249872DK…) NIN that customers will be required to
generate either via NIMC mobile app, via the improved NIN slip with QR code for scanning using the NIMC mobile app or USSD channel for any SIM related services.” Meanwhile, Galaxy Backbone, a government establishment saddled with powering Nigeria’s digital economy, is responsible for providing tech support for NIMC as well as other MDAs.
