MTN Nigeria shuts offices nationwide over sim blockage backlash

• Published On: 30 July 2024 at 19:54

MTN, Nigeria's telecom powerhouse, has closed all of its stores and service facilities in the country.

This comes after the network provider's recent line-barring action, which enraged several of its customers nationally.

In a viral social media video posted on Monday, a throng is seen dismantling a barricade fence near the MTN office.

The video showed a huge group of disgruntled consumers trashing the telecom provider's office in Lagos' FESTAC Town neighborhood after the network barred users due to a mismatch between their SIM registration and NIN.

However, in response to the widely shared video on X.com, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin declared that FESTAC's DPO and his men had effectively restored normalcy and tranquility at the scene.

"This should not be the way to go," he told me.

MTN responded on Tuesday, stating that all of its stores would close today.

"Hello, customer. Please be advised that our stores across the country will be closed today, July 30, 2024," according to a statement obtained by X.