By Milcah Tanimu
MTN Nigeria, a leading telecommunications company, has announced the closure of its offices across the country today, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. This announcement was made through a notice titled ‘Shop Closure’ on its X handle.
The notice states, “Yello customer, please be informed that our shops nationwide will be closed today, 30th July. We are available 24/7 to support you via our digital channels.”
However, the notice does not specify the reason for the closure or when the offices will reopen. Speculation arises as the closure coincides with the preparation of Nigerian youths for nationwide protests over the country’s economic situation, scheduled from August 1 to August 10.
Customer Outrage Over SIM Blockage
On Monday, numerous disgruntled customers protested at various MTN offices across the country due to the blocking of SIM cards ahead of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) deadline for the NIN-SIM linkage on July 31. This blockage led to widespread dissatisfaction and demonstrations, with some frustrated customers at the MTN office in the FESTAC area of Lagos even tearing down the company’s iron fence.
NCC Intervention
In response to the growing outrage, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed telecommunication operators to immediately reconnect all phone lines that had been disconnected due to the NIN-SIM verification exercise. This reactivation is intended to allow affected consumers a limited period to properly link their NINs to their SIMs.
