The National Identity Number (NIN) linkage to Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification exercise deadline has again been extended to December 31 by the Federal Government.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by spokesperson of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Ikechukwu Adinde and Kayode Adegoke respectively on Saturday.
“The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has conveyed the approval of the Federal Government to extend the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification. Citizens and legal residents are urged to complete the process before the end of the year 2021.″
According to the statement, the decision to extend the deadline for the seventh time was due to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders.
It explained that the stakeholders had solicited for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.
”The extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable, and increase enrolments in countries with a significant number of Nigerians.
“The review of the progress of the exercise indicated that over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage.
“A significant part of the populace is yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB).”
The statement said the Federal Government will ensure that all innocent, law abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN.
“Government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector”, the statement added.
There were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, as of Saturday.
It was said that the NIN-SIM verification process is supporting it’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen its ability to protect the cyberspace and support the security agencies.
