ABUJA — Again, the federal government extended the ongoing national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise till December 31, 2021.
Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy announced the development in a statement on Sunday.
The statement, jointly signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, director of public affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communications at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) disclosed that the decision was reached after Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders appealed to the FG.
The deadline was shifted from the previous date of October 31.
According to the statement, the mobile operators pleaded that the deadline be extended to ensure compliance with the government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.
“The 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.
“The decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide,” the stated read.
In the statement, Pantami also indicated that the move with giving room for all citizens to conveniently complete the registration exercise and increase enrollment among citizens in remote areas and those in diaspora.
He also noted that so far, over 66 million unique NIN have been issued, with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN.
“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.”
“As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country. This has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.
“The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs linked to the NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project.”
- Breaking: Ohanaeze President General, George Obiozor, confirmed dead - December 28, 2022
- US to support NDLEA on improved intelligence gathering capacity - December 27, 2022
- Why diversified HIV/AIDS prevention tools matter for women - December 26, 2022
