The Federal Government,FG has extended the deadline earlier issued to all telecommunications operators in the country to block SIMs without National Identification Number (NIN).
Last week, the government had directed Telcos to block SIMs not linked with NIN by December 30. This has led to a mad rush among Nigerians attempting to meet the deadline.
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The New Diplomat earlier reported the rush has become a precipice for chaos amid the second wave of the pandemic in the country.
Apparently reacting to the outrage over the NIN registration, the Federal government extended the deadline for subscribers with NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021 to do the update.
While for subscribers without NIN, the deadline for the registration has been extended from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021.
In a statement titled: ‘Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees’, the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Umar Danbatta; and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz made the disclosure, Monday.
The statement read: “The National Task Force on National Identification Number and SIM Registration met today, 21st December, 2020.
“The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman – NCC, EVC-NCC, DG-NITDA, DG-NIMC, ECTS/ECSM-NCC, Chairman ALTON, CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble in attendance.
“Based on the endorsement of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the following resolutions were made:
“Three (3) weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021; and
“Six (6) weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021.”
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