In late November 2024, a viral voice note on WhatsApp warned Nigerians of a planned “total communication blackout” lasting 48 hours. The narrator claimed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would shut down all GSM towers to conduct a “final audit” of the National Identification Number (NIN) linkage, and that anyone who didn’t “verify” their number through a specific link would lose their line forever.
The NCC debunked the voice note, describing it as a “malicious attempt to create social panic.” The Commission stated that while the NIN-SIM linkage process is ongoing, it does not require a total shutdown of the telecommunications infrastructure. The NCC also warned that the link provided in the voice note was a phishing site designed to steal user data and gain access to mobile banking apps.
Telecom providers like MTN, Airtel, and Glo also sent out SMS blasts to their customers, assuring them that their services would remain operational. They advised customers to use only the official USSD codes (*996# or similar) to check their linkage status. The public is reminded that a total network shutdown would have catastrophic effects on the economy and national security, and would never be used as a routine administrative tool.
