SIM Registration: FG Shifts NIN Update Deadline

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – In response to public outcry about the suddenness in time limit, the Federal Government has extended deadline for the provision of National Identification Number (NIN) by telecommunication service subscribers in the country.

Several Nigerians, including the House of Representatives, had raised their voices against government’s deadline and demanded it be extended to accommodate the exigencies of the time

The deadline extension is conveyed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in Abuja on Monday.

Titled; “Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees”, the statement was jointly signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta; and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Aziz.

According to the statement; “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.”

Furthermore, the statement said; “NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing.”

Last week, the NCC had directed telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN.

Going by this directive, most NIMC offices and outlets nationwide witnessed large turnouts of many subscribers struggling to register and obtain the NIN before the initial December 2020 ending deadline.