FG extends deadline for NIN-SIM linkage to April 6

 

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami

 

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for the linking of National Identification Number (NIN) with the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) by 8 weeks. The new deadline for the completion of the exercise is April 6, 2021.

 

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) disclosed this during the meeting of the Ministerial Taskforce on NIN-SIM registration on the 1st of February, 2021.

The minister said the extension became necessary to give Nigerians and legal residents more time to integrate their NIN with the SIM.

 

A joint press statement signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Kayode Adegoke, Head Corporate Communications of the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC) disclosed that the meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

 

Others include the MD/CEOs of MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile, Ntel, Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Globacom.

It was reported at the meeting that the mobile network operators had collected a total of 56.18 million NINs. Each NIN is usually tied to an average of 3 to 4 SIMs and this infers that the current figure accounts for a significant portion of the existing SIMs.

This number of NINs collected represents a significant increase when compared with the 47.8 million reported by the Technical Committee on January 18, 2021.

Furthermore, over 1060 registration centres for NIN have been activated and made operational by NIMC across the country, while Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have opened hundreds of centres and are rapidly deploying resources to open thousands of other NIN enrolment centres across states of the country.

Pantami reiterated the need for Nigerians and legal residents who are yet to register for the NIN to be diligent and take advantage of the extension to enrol for their NIN and link it with their SIMs.

It would be recalled that the 4th of February, 2020 was the initial date of the commencement of the National NIN-SIM Registration Policy.

Pantami implored applicants to follow the safety guidelines at all the NIN enrolment centres and ensure compliance with the booking system in place.

“This protocol is in line with the Executive Order on COVID-19 2020 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 27th of January 2021, in keeping with the provisions of the Quarantine Act 2004,” the statement further disclosed.

It is noteworthy that Sections 27 and 29 of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 provides for the mandatory use of National Identity Number for transactions, including application and issuance of a passport, the opening of personal bank accounts, purchase of insurance policies, voter registration, and obtaining credit, among others.