FG Approves Extension Of Deadline For NIN-SIM Linkages

BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – For the third time in two months, the Federal Government has announced the extension of the deadline it earlier placed for NIN-SIM data verification to June 30, 2021.

The government said that it approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN, adding that it is important to take advantage of the extension.
It further said that the extension of the deadline was based on the request by stakeholders for a postponement till June 30, in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register.
These were contained in a statement jointly signed by Director, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Mr Kayode Adegoke respectively.

The statement however said that significant progress has been made in the NIN-SIM verification process, adding that almost 54 million people have obtained their NIN.

It further states; “Tis can translate to up to 190 Million mobile numbers, since empirical evidence suggests that each unique NIN maps to 3 to 4 phone lines.
“The much awaited Android enrolment system is now ready for deployment and this has the potential to significantly accelerate the speed and ease of enrolments,” the government stated.
The statement also stated that the telecom providers and other enrolment agents have also opened several centres across the country to make it easier for eligible citizens and residents to obtain and link their NINs.
The FG said; “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 accessing several government services.
“This is similar to the use of Social Security Number and National Insurance Number for accessing services in the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively”.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, thanked Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
He reiterated government’s commitment to continually take decisions aimed at easing the pains of the citizens with regards to issues related to NIN and SIM registration.
The virtual meeting was chaired by Dr Pantami and attended by the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Adeolu Akande, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr Aliyu Azeez.