The Federal Government through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, has approved a further extension of the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to March 31, 2022.
This is as the government has said that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 71 million NINs as of December 30, 2021, with more than 14,000 enrolment centres set up across the country.
The extension is to enable the federal government consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.
This disclosure is contained in a press statement jointly issued and signed by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, and Head, Corporate Communications, NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, on December 31, 2021.
The federal government in the press statement titled, ‘NIN Enrolments exceed 71 Million as Federal Government Extends NIN-SIM Verification to 31st March 2022’, said the NIMC has also set up enrolment centres in over 31 countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
It also states that the stakeholders praised the federal government on the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerians and legal residents across the country.
What the Federal Government is saying
The statement partly reads, ‘’The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FBCS, FNCS, FIIM, wishes to convey the approval of the Federal Government to further extend the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.
‘’As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71m) NINs with over fourteen thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country.
‘’Furthermore, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora. The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.
‘’Following the request by stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022. This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents.
‘’The Honourable Minister has however implored Nigerians and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification. He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.’’
What you should know
- The NCC and NIMC had in October 2021, extended the SIM-NIN deadline to December saying that 66 unique NINs had been captured. Pantami had on December 10, 2021, said over 70 million unique NINs had been captured.
- According to a report, a source at the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) had earlier said that only about 90 million subscribers had linked their SIMs to their NINs.
- It was reported that over 101 million telecommunication subscribers risk disconnection if the December 31 deadline for the NIN and SIM data verification is not extended.
- The federal government had shifted the deadline for the NIN-SIM data verification several times.
