Airtel | Zikoko!

The Nigerian government doesn’t deliver on a lot of promises, but it seems to be doing something with NIN-SIM linkage.

Just to recap, the government came up with an idea in 2020 based on security and socio-economic reasons. Many kidnappers were making simple phone calls to demand ransom payments from their victims’ families, and they were getting away with it. To make that process harder, the government directed all mobile subscribers in Nigeria to link their National Identity Number (NIN) with their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

How did Nigerians take it?

Millions of Nigerians rushed to link their NIN to their SIM cards to avoid getting banned by a government that has a Ph.D. in banning stuff. But there were thousands of other Nigerians who were not enthusiastic about it.

Some Nigerians were discouraged by the rush and queues that followed the directive, and others just didn’t trust the government to know their business. It didn’t help that it became public knowledge around the same time that the man behind the idea, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had some past romance with terrorism.

But Buhari said the minister was an impressionable young man when he was doing PDA with terrorist ideas and all sins were forgiven. But Pantami was actually 34 at the time.

ALSO READ: 5 Nigerians Talk About Getting Their NIN

What did the government do?

Because the initial two-week deadline set by the government in December 2020 was an inconvenient joke, it was moved by more weeks. And then it was moved by more months and more months after that. In total, the government postponed the deadline eight different times spanning over 15 months.

The continuous postponements fueled public scorn that the government would never actually go through with banning millions of people and wreck one of Nigeria’s few profitable sectors. That was until April 4th 2022.

No NIN-SIM linkage, no outgoing calls

On April 4th 2022, the government directed telecoms companies to bar people who have failed to do NIN-SIM linkage from making outgoing calls. Over 73 million active mobile lines in Nigeria are affected by the ban.

Pantami asked those affected to link their NIN to their SIM cards to get the ban lifted.

We spoke to some of the Nigerians affected on how they’re dealing with the situation.

Chioma* — graphic designer in Enugu

The reason for not registering for NIN or linking it to my SIM is very simple — the system cannot be trusted. The idea of submitting my BVN as one of the criteria didn’t sit well with me. The same government asked for BVN registration for easy tracking of individuals but today, kidnappers and other criminal groups collect ransom via bank accounts. The government and its agencies are doing nothing about it.

I see the government and its agencies as jokers and a confused set of people. Why should I even pay to get NIN? Right now, I’m not feeling bad about my line being blocked, because there are alternative means of communication. My friends and family are calling in, and I can make outgoing calls with WhatsApp. I’m still not registering.

Adetoye* — student in Lagos

I tried to do the NIN-SIM linkage offline but it was looking stressful so I stopped trying. I didn’t get a chance to do it since then because I don’t go out often. The ban isn’t really affecting me because I don’t like phone calls like that. I mostly just stay online and chat. As long as I can still browse, I won’t link anything. What will be will be.

Daniel* — data analyst in Ogun State

Interestingly, I had linked my Airtel lines before the deadline. It was only my MTN lines that I didn’t link. My Airtel lines were barred but my MTN lines are still active as we speak. I have been unable to do anything work-related as I mostly use my Airtel SIM on my router. I had to buy data on my MTN to continue working.

I’ll wait for the system to self-correct. It’s not like I have a choice. I’d fancied my chances at filing a class action suit against NIMC, NCC, FG, and Airtel but we all know my chances at getting compensation are as real as pigs flying.

Linda* — student in Abuja

There’s just one reason I didn’t link my SIM to my NIN, abi is it NIN to SIM — I get coconut head and I no dey hear word. Also, I wanted to see what would really happen if I didn’t do it. E no too affect me. I was owing MTN ₦4500 that I had used up. Make dem no unblock am sef.

I’ll enjoy this peace of mind and continue using my router to browse and use my social media apps to make calls. When they’re tired, they’ll rest.

Jude* — student in Lagos

I did my NIN-SIM linkage in 2018 before the linkage drive even began in 2020. I was just surprised I couldn’t call since then because I did it alongside my first line. The ban isn’t affecting me because it’s only my second line that’s barred. My first line is still active and linked with my NIN. There’s nothing to do about it. Maybe GLO’s NIN activation was temporary or not working when I did it. I’ll try the code again later.

ALSO READ: How to Get Away with $9.8 Million — the Andrew Yakubu Story

Samson Toromade

April 9, 2022

Citizen

Airtel, Glo, Isa Pantami, MTN, NIMC, NIN-SIM linkage
In this article, we gave you a little background information on Airtel’s “The Rainmaker” teaser and what we think it could be hinting at – a TV series, or another mind-blowing advert. Well, we’re back with more gist on that.

Asides being a period piece and starring Nollywood veteran, Jide Kosoko, here are other things we found out.

• It is part of Airtel’s “Data Is Life” advert series.

• Nigeria’s rich and diverse culture is on full display.

• The acting and storytelling is superb.

Airtel doesn’t fall hand; they keep keep dropping amazing on-screen content back-to-back.

Just see for yourself.

We love this whole cultural concept from “the smartphone network.” You should too. It’s available on Airtel TV if you’d like to rewatch the video. Also, stay alert on Airtel Nigeria’s social pages for more gist and get ready to #RepYourTribeWithAirtel as there’ll be prizes of up to 100, 000 Naira to be won.

Anticipate!

Susan Nwaobiala

May 5, 2021

Pop

Adverts, Airtel, Culture, Sponsored Post, TV
Nigerian advertisers are notorious for dumbing down their messages, because they feel most of us don’t have the brain to understand it. Most times, they end up using comedy to pass these messages across, which is fine.

And that’s exactly what Airtel did this time. But this advert will make you laugh so hard, you might end up rolling on the floor! Just look at:

https://twitter.com/macpetrus/status/801318107864334336

Wait, so you mean the mumu guy just had to walk around small to find his way out?

This advert is giving us serious Robinson Crusoe vibes though! More of these fun adverts from our Nigerian brands, please and thank you!

Shola

November 24, 2016

Gist

Airtel, Funny, Nigeria, nigerian advert
1. When you buy a new sim and you have to go and register it.

STRESS!
2. When you get a text thinking someone cares about you but it’s just your network provider.

See my life.
3. You, looking for signal every that actually matters.

You’ll never have network in your house or office, but you’ll be getting in the middle of the road.
4. When your phone finally shows 3G and it’s still not browsing.

Is this a joke?
5. Whenever they ask you to pay N100 to get some “inspirational quotes”.

Save it, biko.
6. When they give you caller tunes by force.

They will now collect money from you. Oversabis.
7. When they dash you credit but say you can only call people on the same network.

See nonsense.
8. Your network provider, when you want to port:

Oya beg me.
9. When you load credit to call people and they use it to auto-renew your data.

WHO SENT YOU?
10. When you load data and they “dash” you 10MB.

To use and do what, ehn?
11. When they send you “congratulations, you can now borrow airtime.”

Congratulations ke? Is it an achievement?
12. When you see them reducing their data cost but their network is still trash.

See these ones.
13. When you get that “100MB remaining” message.

My God is bigger than you.
14. When you answer a call from a strange number and it’s your network provider.

What the hell?
15. “A customer care representative will be with you shortly.”

Still waiting.

Daniel Orubo

June 8, 2016

Oldies

Airtel, etisalat, Glo, MTN, Network provider, Nigeria
1. How you feel when you activate a new data bundle:

YES!
2. When you don’t want wahala.

https://twitter.com/Skiwo/status/695901973288263681

3. The pain you feel when this comes up:

The worst.
4. You, trying to remember what you did that you’re already getting data warning.

How did this happen?
5. When you actually stop and calculate how much you spend on data in a month.

Jah Jehovah!
6. When they don’t warn you that data has finished and you use up all your credit.

I’m dead.
7. When one app says its update is available.

Better stay like that.
8. You, whenever you go somewhere that has wifi.

Abeg. Epp me out.
9. When you forget to turn on the wifi and realize you’ve been using your data.

See my life.
10. When your service provider “dashes” you 10 MB.

To use and do what?
11. When the wifi is slow so you have to turn it off and use your own data.

This was not the plan.
12. When someone abroad says they want to skype with you.

No thanks.
13. You, whenever your data finishes:

Oh God! Please no.
14. How you see your phone when there is no data:

Might as well throw it away.

Daniel Orubo

April 18, 2016

Oldies

3G, Africa, Airtel, Data, Edge, Glo, MTN. Etisalat, Nigeria, Nigerians
First, Airtel piques our interest with this teaser, and then we finally give you the gist of what’s up with the cultural display in this must-watch video. We have to admit that “the smartphone network” keeps surprising us in pleasant ways.

Now, we have good news! They’re on the lookout for Nigerians who can boldly rep their tribes. Does that sound like you? The main aim of the challenge is to encourage Nigerians to showcase their culture in all its richness and vibrancy, and they nailed it.

Just see how peng these people look in their native outfits.

There are cash prizes of up to N100,000 to be won. So, leggo!

Good luck!

Susan Nwaobiala

May 7, 1991

Announcements

Airtel, nigerian culture, Sponsored Post

How did Nigerians take it?

What did the government do?

No NIN-SIM linkage, no outgoing calls

Chioma* — graphic designer in Enugu

Adetoye* — student in Lagos

**Daniel* — data analyst in Ogun State**

Linda* — student in Abuja

**Jude* — student in Lagos**

1. When you buy a new sim and you have to go and register it.

2. When you get a text thinking someone cares about you but it’s just your network provider.

3. You, looking for signal every that actually matters.

4. When your phone finally shows 3G and it’s still not browsing.

5. Whenever they ask you to pay N100 to get some “inspirational quotes”.

6. When they give you caller tunes by force.

7. When they dash you credit but say you can only call people on the same network.

8. Your network provider, when you want to port:

9. When you load credit to call people and they use it to auto-renew your data.

10. When you load data and they “dash” you 10MB.

11. When they send you “congratulations, you can now borrow airtime.”

12. When you see them reducing their data cost but their network is still trash.

13. When you get that “100MB remaining” message.

14. When you answer a call from a strange number and it’s your network provider.

15. “A customer care representative will be with you shortly.”

1. How you feel when you activate a new data bundle:

2. When you don’t want wahala.

3. The pain you feel when this comes up:

4. You, trying to remember what you did that you’re already getting data warning.

5. When you actually stop and calculate how much you spend on data in a month.

6. When they don’t warn you that data has finished and you use up all your credit.

7. When one app says its update is available.

8. You, whenever you go somewhere that has wifi.

9. When you forget to turn on the wifi and realize you’ve been using your data.

10. When your service provider “dashes” you 10 MB.

11. When the wifi is slow so you have to turn it off and use your own data.

12. When someone abroad says they want to skype with you.

13. You, whenever your data finishes:

14. How you see your phone when there is no data:

How did Nigerians take it?

What did the government do?

No NIN-SIM linkage, no outgoing calls

Chioma* — graphic designer in Enugu

Adetoye* — student in Lagos

Daniel* — data analyst in Ogun State

Linda* — student in Abuja

Jude* — student in Lagos

Nigerian advertisers are notorious for dumbing down their messages, because they feel most of us don’t have the brain to understand it. Most times, they end up using comedy to pass these messages across, which is fine.

And that’s exactly what Airtel did this time. But this advert will make you laugh so hard, you might end up rolling on the floor! Just look at:

Wait, so you mean the mumu guy just had to walk around small to find his way out?

This advert is giving us serious Robinson Crusoe vibes though! More of these fun adverts from our Nigerian brands, please and thank you!

1. When you buy a new sim and you have to go and register it.

2. When you get a text thinking someone cares about you but it’s just your network provider.

3. You, looking for signal every that actually matters.

4. When your phone finally shows 3G and it’s still not browsing.

5. Whenever they ask you to pay N100 to get some “inspirational quotes”.

6. When they give you caller tunes by force.

7. When they dash you credit but say you can only call people on the same network.

8. Your network provider, when you want to port:

9. When you load credit to call people and they use it to auto-renew your data.

10. When you load data and they “dash” you 10MB.

11. When they send you “congratulations, you can now borrow airtime.”

12. When you see them reducing their data cost but their network is still trash.

13. When you get that “100MB remaining” message.

14. When you answer a call from a strange number and it’s your network provider.

15. “A customer care representative will be with you shortly.”

1. How you feel when you activate a new data bundle:

2. When you don’t want wahala.

3. The pain you feel when this comes up:

4. You, trying to remember what you did that you’re already getting data warning.

5. When you actually stop and calculate how much you spend on data in a month.

6. When they don’t warn you that data has finished and you use up all your credit.

7. When one app says its update is available.

8. You, whenever you go somewhere that has wifi.

9. When you forget to turn on the wifi and realize you’ve been using your data.

10. When your service provider “dashes” you 10 MB.

11. When the wifi is slow so you have to turn it off and use your own data.

12. When someone abroad says they want to skype with you.

13. You, whenever your data finishes:

14. How you see your phone when there is no data:

**Daniel* — data analyst in Ogun State**

**Jude* — student in Lagos**